Bleeding was often encouraged over large areas of the body by multiple incisions. 5th Century B.C. The vein was manually perforated by the practitioner. Many shallow cuts were sometimes made. Spring loaded lancet Spring loaded lancets came into use during the early 18th Century. The fleam was heavily used during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Many varieties exist.
The fleam was often used by veterinarians. Scarificator The scarificator, a series of twelve blades, was also in vogue during the 18th Century, This device was cocked and the trigger released spring-driven rotary blades which caused many shallow cuts. The scarificator seems more merciful than the other blood-letting instruments. Blood was caught in shallow bowls. During the 17th to 19th centuries, blood was also captured in small flint glass cups.