Chap. 43.] EXTRACTION OF FOREIGN BODIES FROM FLESH. 51 



On the other hand, again, in cases where it is required to 

 let blood, the kind of leech is used which is known among 

 us by the name of '' sanguisuga.^^" Indeed, the action of 

 these leeches is looked upon as pretty much the same as that 

 of the cupping-glasses*^ used in medicine, their effect being to 

 relieve the body of superfluous blood, and to open the pores of 

 the skin. Still, however, there is this inconvenience attend- 

 ing them — when they have been once applied, they create a 

 necessity^" for having recourse to the same treatment at about 

 the same period in every succeeding year. Many physicians 

 have been of opinion also, that leeches may be successfully ap- 

 plied in cases of gout. When gorged, they fall off in conse- 

 quence of losing their hold through the weight of the blood, 

 but if not, they must be sprinkled with salt^^ for the purpose. 



Leeches are apt, however, to leave their heads buried in the 

 flesh ; the consequence of which is an incurable wound, which 

 has caused death in many cases, that of Messalinus,"'- for ex- 

 ample, a patrician of consular rank, after an application of 

 leeches to his knee. When this is the case, that which was 

 intended as a remedy is turned into an active poison ;^^ a result 

 which is to be apprehended in using the red leeches more 

 particularly. Hence it is that when these last are employed, 

 it is the practice to snip them with a pair of scissors while 

 sucking ; the consequence of which is, that the blood oozes 

 forth, through a siphon, as it were, and the head, gradually 

 contracting as the animal dies, is not left behind in the wound. 

 There is a natural antipathy^ existing between leeches and 

 bugs, and hence it is that the latter are killed by the aid 

 of a fumigation made with leeches. Ashes of beaver-skin 

 burnt with tar, kneaded up with leek-juice, arrest bleeding at 

 the nostrils. 



CHAP. 43. — METHODS OF EXTRACTING FOREIGN BODIES FROM 

 THE FLESH. 



To extract pointed weapons which have pierced the flesh, 

 ashes of calcined shells of the ssepia are used, as also of the 



^^ "Bloodsuckers." ^9 " Cucurbitae medicinales." 



^^ This does not appear to be considered the case at the present day. 



^^ A method still employed. ^- See B. x. c. 27. 



^2 " Invehunt virus remedio verso." The reading is probably corrupt, 

 but the meaning is pretty evident. 



^* See B. xxix. c. 17, and c. 47 of this Book. 



E 2 



