This month's item is a trocar, which is a bit of a misnomer. The trocar is the handled instrument, used to puncture the body of an animal or human to remove fluid. (Think aspiration in humans.)  The sheath is called a cannula, and the two are usually used together. For a close-up, click here.

If you look up "trocar" and "cannula" online, you'll find they're often referenced as medical tools. That's because they're also used to administer medication. Of course, in cases of human use, the trocar is usually a needle and the cannula is typically some type of tubing. To enlarge the pic below, click here.

We were introduced to this item over Thanksgiving when our brother-in-law offered it as a mystery item. He knew what it was because he'd used one before. He called it a bloat knife, which is what it's typically referred to in the livestock industry. It's used to relieve cattle, goats, and other livestock of bloating, which can be fatal.

To use it, the "knife," or trocar, is driven into the animal (in the case of cattle, behind the hip) and removed. The cannula remains in place as long as necessary, until the excess gas is expelled (usually 15 or 20 minutes).