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Digital Collections

Vessels (Containers), Implements, utensils, etc., Medical instruments and apparatus

Bleeding bowl

  • 1752

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BY 4.0

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Bowls like this one were used to catch the blood released by bleeding. The appearance of blood was a useful diagnostic tool for physicians, who examined it for clues about the body's internal state. This large bowl was capable of holding a great deal of blood, but its maker encouraged moderation by stamping "BLEED ME LIGHT" in the basin.

Property Value
Format
Genre
Medium
Extent
  • 3.5 in. H x 15 in. Diam.
Inscription
  • (Base of bowl) "BLEED ME LIGHT"
  • (On lip, across from notch) "1752"
  • (Clockwise from leftmost part of notch) "OL / TE / L? / MM / HW / BT / LM"
Subject
Rights Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Credit line
  • Courtesy of Science History Institute

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Cite as

Science History Institute. Bleeding Bowl. Photograph, 2017. Science History Institute. Philadelphia. https://digital.sciencehistory.org/works/hq37vp25j.

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BY 4.0

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The Science History Institute recognizes there are materials in our collections that may be offensive or harmful, containing racist, sexist, Eurocentric, ableist, or homophobic language or depictions. The history of science is not exempt from beliefs or practices harmful to traditionally marginalized groups. The Institute is engaged in ongoing efforts to responsibly present and address the evidence of oppression and injustice inextricable from the history of science. If you would like to learn more about our ongoing efforts or if you encounter harmful, inaccurate, or insufficient descriptions, please contact us at digital@sciencehistory.org.