A 19th century bleeding stick or "knocker". These were used by veterinary surgeons literally to knock the blade of a fleam through an animals hide. The stick is made from a heavy hard ebonised wood but I am not sure if this is 'Lignum Vitae' (from which they were often made and whose bark incidentally was used to treat syphilis). The handle is nicely carved in concentric rings. There is an area of wear over one side of the instrument where the wood would have hit the fleam. 31.6 x 3.5 cm .