Med. Also β. 7–9 venæsection. [ad. med. or mod.L. vēnæ sectio cutting of a vein: see VENA and SECTION.]
1. The operation of cutting or opening a vein; phlebotomy; the practice of this as a medical remedy.
α. 1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 327. The small-pocks … are cured by … venesection in the adult.
1669. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Chym., 78. Too much blood spent in venesection.
1767. Gooch, Treat. Wounds, I. 370. We must first endeavour to stop the flux of blood,… repeating venesection occasionally.
1791. J. Townsend, Journ. Spain (1792), II. 39. Notwithstanding this repeated venesection, his pulse was remarkably full and strong.
1834. J. Forbes, Laennec’s Dis. Chest (ed. 4), 67. Leeching has the advantages and disadvantages of venesection, only in a less degree.
1877. F. T. Roberts, Handbk. Med. (ed. 3), I. 29. To diminish the quantity of the blood, either by venesection, or by local methods.
β. 1676. Wiseman, Surg. Treat., I. iii. 16. The Fever which attends Pain is removed by Venæsection, or by the resolution or suppuration of the Tumour.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. Angina, In the external Angina, before any Suppuration appears, recourse is had to repeated Venæsection in the Jugulars.
1754–64. Smellie, Midwifery, I. 153. In a woman of a full habit of body venæsection is necessary.
1805. Med. Jrnl., XIV. 307. The wishes of the medical attendant who advises venæsection.
1884. Pye, Surg. Handicraft, 70. This expedient, with the practice of venæsection in general, has been out of fashion for many years now.
2. An instance of this.
1834. J. Forbes, Laennec’s Dis. Chest (ed. 4), 233. The same scene is renewed … after as many successive venesections.
1845. G. E. Day, Simon’s Anim. Chem., I. 248. The three following tables show the mean results of the first second, and third venesections.
1876. trans. Wagner’s Gen. Path., 2. Change in the fibrin after frequent venesections.
