Blodtagningen

Blodtagningen, often translated as bloodletting or phlebotomy in English, refers to the historical practice of withdrawing blood from a patient. This procedure was once a common medical treatment believed to cure a wide range of ailments, from fevers and infections to mental disturbances. The underlying theory was that illness was caused by an imbalance of bodily humors, and removing excess or corrupted blood would restore equilibrium and health.

The techniques for bloodletting varied. Common methods included venesection, where a vein was cut or pierced, often in the arm, and cupping, which involved creating a vacuum on the skin to draw blood to the surface. Leeches were also frequently employed for their blood-drawing capabilities. The amount of blood withdrawn could range from a few ounces to several pints, depending on the perceived severity of the illness.

Despite its widespread use for centuries, the effectiveness of bloodletting was always a subject of debate among physicians. By the 19th century, scientific understanding of physiology and disease began to advance, leading to a decline in the practice. Modern medicine has largely abandoned bloodletting as a therapeutic intervention, recognizing its potential for harm and lack of efficacy. Today, phlebotomy is primarily performed for diagnostic purposes, such as blood tests, or for therapeutic reasons in specific conditions like hemochromatosis, where excess iron needs to be removed from the body.