Description
Bleeding was accepted as a cure for a wide variety of medical complaints since Hippocrates’ teachings in the 5th century BC. It continued to be a popular until the 20th century. Physicians were known to have kept and consulted complex charts that showed which parts of the body should be bleed for each illness.

Prior to the development of the spring scarificator in around 1710, the surgeon had followed ancient practice and made a series of parallel incisions with a lancet or surgical knife. A scarificator consists of a brass box with 4 to 16 spring loaded blades which are released to make a series of cuts in the patient. A heated cupping glass is then applied over the cuts. As the cupping glass cools a vacuum is created. This vacuum draws the blood from the body and collects it within the cupping glass.

Wet cupping was carried out using the following procedure:

First the cups were immersed in hot water; the wick was then lit and the cup held over it for about 2 seconds; it was then allowed to sink, with its own weight, onto the skin where it rested for about one minute. During this minute the scarifier was warmed and at the right moment the glass was removed, the scarifier applied to the swelling and the glass returned to catch the blood.

This required considerable dexterity and during the 19th century many attempts were made to develop gadgets that made it easier for the less experienced. The basic set of cups, scarifier, wick and spirit bottle was however the easiest method for those well versed in the art of cupping.

Syringes were included in sets of cupping instruments as it could be attached to the cup to draw the blood more quickly. However, since it was more complicated, the valves sometimes stuck and the air exhaustion could be carried too far, so impeding the flow of blood. The system was not widely adopted.
11/08/2006
Created by: updated by Ruth Horry on 11/08/2006