Revolutionary War Bleeder or Fleam, having four blades and a scalpel

These are more early pieces coming out of a 60-year collection of French & Indian War, Revolutionary War, and War of 1812 artifacts. Much of the collection was artillery related, but also there is a good portion of personal and medical items. Being offered is a Revolutionary War surgeon’s bleeder or fleam. The brass framed bleeder in the closed position measures 3 ¾” x 1” x ½”.

This example is rarer than most, having four blades and an additional scalpel, as the one shown in “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution”, by Neumann & Kravic (see pictures).

The blades were used to pierce the skin to release “bad blood”. Surgeons used the practice of bloodletting, simply because they had no other answer for treating the wounded or ill soldier. It can safely be said that this practice never benefited the patient and, in many cases, did more harm by causing infection.

There is another example of this bleeder in the Guilford Revolutionary War Museum (see pictures). There is also one shown in the book “Revolutionary War Medicine” (see pictures). The bleeder is in very good condition – the blades open and close but could use a couple drops of oil.

This collection began in the late 1950s and was created by private acquisitions, closed museums, diggers, and divers. The collector meticulously displayed and cataloged every piece along with any known provenance.

This is the first time this instrument has been on the open market. It definitely merits a place in an advanced collection or museum.  As with all the pieces in this esteemed collection, a Certificate of Authenticity will be included. This would make a great addition to any early medical collection. It comes in the glass top display case pictured.