Fleam | c. 1840-1860

1651.1125.1

Donor: Clara Campbell Cook

Bloodletting for medical purposes was a common practice until the late nineteenth century. However, this fleam was probably made to be used on horses and other farm animals, not people.

Rufus Campbell (1818-1900), believed to have owned this fleam, was a shoemaker and a farmer living in South Natick. According to the Natick Vital Records, Campbell was living on Eliot Street in South Natick until the year he died.

Fleams nearly identical to ours, which are also found in other museum collections, are identified as “veterinary.” For example, the Science Museum Group’s site, which features an almost identical fleam, notes:

“Such instruments were used for bloodletting animals. They were occasionally used on humans although the preferred instrument was the lancet. The fleam has three blades which fold into the horn handle.”

(Website: https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/)