Cattle 1853 - Lewis Family Farm

THE MILK, OR SUB-CUTANEOUS ABDOMINAL VEIN. 219
veins behind, are proper places for bleeding—and some say the
milk, or sub-cutaneous abdominal vein. This last vein is large
enough for the speedy abstraction of any quantity of blood in the
shortest period ; but the jugular is the most convenient bleedingplace
in particular cases ; and the only question is, whether any local
advantage can be obtained by opening the sub-cutaneous abdominal.
THE MILK, OR SUB-CUTANEOUS ABDOMINAL VEIIT.
This vein first comes into view under the abdomen, at the commencement
of the cartilaginous circle of the false ribs. It emerges
from two foramina, or openings, (the situation of which is pointed
out by fig. 18, p. 208.) It approaches, on either side, the mesian
line of the abdomen, and burying itself between the thighs, it pursues
its course towards the inguinal vein. Sometimes it unites with
the superpubian vein, and occasionally gives a branch to the sub-
pelvian. In the neighborhood of the cartilaginous circle, it presents
two branches, the one external and superior, the other internal and
inferior. The first springs from various cutaneous ramifications,
reaching even to the thorax, and anastomosing or communicating
with some of the sub-cutaneous veins of the thorax. The other
branch penetrates within the cartilaginous circle, and "goes to unite
with a principal division of the veins of the sternum.
This milk vein is derived from numerous ramifications from the
walls of the chest, as far anteriorly as the breast bone, and taking in
some of the external intercostals. ' It belongs to the respiratory system
more than to any other. As it advances posteriorly along the
abdomen, it creeps by the side of the udder, or of the scrotum, and
empties itself partly into the inguinal, and partly into the sub-pelyian
vein. As it travels along the abdomen and the groin, it receives
some muscular and cutaneous fibres, but nothing more. Its use is to
assist in returning the blood from these parts, and also by this roundabout
journey, and these curious connections, to- establish a free communication
between the anterior and posterior cav&, or the blood
which is returned from the anterior and posterior portions of the
body. This may be a matter of considerable consequence in certain
states of the constitution.
Should we have recourse to the milk vein in order to obtain the
benefit of local bleeding ? We should in cases of abdominal inflammation,
for we should unload the vessels of the walls of the abdomen,
and probably assist in unloading some of the internal vessels
too, and we should abate the danger of peritoneal inflammation.
For yet stronger reasons, we should have recourse to it in thoracic
affection, for most of the smaller ramifications which compose -this
vein come from the thorax, and there is greater sympathy, and there
are more numerous connections between the outer and inner portion
of the wall of the chest than of the abdomen. But if we were to