1359

L , the blood-sucking leeches.

leech m

l!i > thereof com P ar ed to three saws, each armed with sixty teeth. ItPart should’,!’ 01 SUr P risin S ^hat P a * n an d afflux of blood to the woundedI have s 0 ( >e occas i°ned by the laceration of the skin by a single leech.l he exten^p 1 CS , seen one °i these animals produce intense redness tos Iiti ; s dgj. 0 * an inch around the bite. This is best observed when the? r Hiinb er 1( k ate ’ as that covering the mammae of the female. Now whenWe S0llJe . J'hese animals are applied, their united local effects must^Pical eff lnauen . ce ov ’ er a neighbouring disease. There are also certainhot) an( | , eats which occur subsequently, such as ecchymosis; the irrita-I 1)688 and am mation of the mouths of the punctures; the diffused red-| >>otb e ,vh soreness in the parts intervening between the bites, whichI P’ple of " ll hout influence over morbid action. They act on the prin-11> huence CO f ln ^ er ' lriata ^ on ' taking into consideration the beneficial

^tiojjg °. leches, we must, therefore, not forget these, nor the fomen-

^Vhen l P ou ^ ces subsequently employed.

1° t] le ee ches are applied to the temples, especially if they fix close

Ji'at can s 7’f 1 ca,1 thus, a diffused swelling frequently arises, similar to

'hes 0 f by erysipelas. This is not referrible to any noxious qua-

M°ye ( i. le an imal, for it happens when the finest and most healthy are em-

1 liav e hc° T t0 t ^ ie teet ^* °1 the animal being left within the wound, since

hi 0007 ?% Seen " l len the leech has fallen off spontaneously.

g these remarks on the local effects of leeches, I have

e, I p ’ *hat independently of the local irritation caused by the punc-

ifc benp'fi V - e ^ le evacuation of blood from an inflamed part may be

“ <bf, same quantity taken by the usual ‘' r

’ •■•Lnit what

J * if u ,

I b e p ’ independently of tiie -lOCcU. irx4

V . e le ev acuation of blood from an inflamed part may

j ei) csecfi 0n Cl f than the same quantity taken by the usual operation of>d qj ‘ . , other words, I am disposed to admit what were formerly|- jjain e( j p Privative effects of local bleeding. The amount of benefitij. s ’ &.c. ’ 6 a PPli c ation of leeches to parts that have been injured by

q great ^ f ractures and dislocations, has frequently appeared to mey Ptiujj than could be referred to the combined influence of ther esp e f iooc ^ hist, and the local irritation of the punctures; so, also,tj ^flrop^p. *° the good effects of leeching hemorrhoidal tumors. Mr.j/’ 6 of lee c i| S lnore benefit is in some cases obtained by the applica-T ^ ee o te GS i at a c ^ s t <ance from the affected organ, constituting what

U, \ tr ust tb llllef a revu kive operation.

i^ting t j le ® remarks now offered will be sufficient to prove, that in esti-1)01 th e 0 lera peutic influence of leeches, the quantity of blood drawn^t proof n y. 1 e ' eme, it in the calculation ; and I think, in practice, con-l> Ul Hed f' V ] tound that leeching is more beneficial than can be

j S Ls_’J the mere quantity of blood drawn.

oft " Showing are some of the uses of leeches :—

form ren an( ^ delicate Adults [as females and aged persons) leeches

ltj^ c I is nQ ? n exce ttent substitute for general blood-letting , where thec hi](] reil 0 -, *° occas ion any immediate or sudden effect on the disease.J® "’h ero *. lS necessar y to avoid applying them to the neck, or other

l 0c j In / 0ea ? 6an P res si°n cannot be conveniently made.iq v .bl 00( ] i ^terminations of blood, unattended with febrile symptoms,q^Pably e when it can be resorted to, is generally, though not, cq[ a>ltl g are n, erre(110 Phlebotomy. The advantages of leeching over' ’ for ^ • e l ess P^n, an< i tire ease with which blood may be pro-

U %1 ]• 1L , s ev ident that in swelled testicle, in inflammation attending)s - and in acute inflammation of the mammary gland,