[ 286 J 
LXI. Description of a mechanical Substitute for Leeches, in 
Bleeding. By Mr.J.Wuirrorp, of St. Bartholomew’s Hos- 
pital*. 
To the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, 
and Commerce. 
Gentiemen,—L HAVE taken the liberty of offering myself a 
second time to your notice, and to lay before you a small appa- 
ratus [have lately invented, as a substitute for leeches : a deside- 
ratum particularly to be cherished, when it is recollected that in 
severe frosts leeches cannot always be procured, and very often 
at too great a price for the afflicted necessitous to obtain. My 
invention consists of a small spring instrument, with three trian- 
gular-pointed lancets, which can be regulated to any degree of 
depth that may be required; the rest of the apparatus is a small 
exhausting syringe, with three glasses, of different sizes, to be 
applied as the nature of the case may require; as frequent.com- 
plaints have been made by medical men, who were in the habit 
of using the exhausting syringe and glasses for cupping, that after 
they had applied the glass, in the usual way, with the pump, if 
they withdrew the syringe from the glass for the purpose of ap- 
plying others, the air would frequently get under the valve and 
cause the glass to fall off; and I feel happy in stating, that I have 
completely succeeded in the improvement I have made on the 
cup of the glass, which will prevent the possibility of that occur- 
rence. Notwithstanding the many alterations I have been making 
on the apparatus for the last four years, I found that I was in 
the exact situation, as to the mode of applying the glasses, as 
gentlemen who were in the habit of using the exhausting syringe 
and glasses for cupping. I could but apply one glass at a time 
without the danger, if I removed the syringe, of the glass falling 
off, as it most frequently happens you have occasion to apply two 
or more leeches. I found it therefore necessary to make a further 
improvement on the instrument, that you might apply as many 
glasses at a time as you might think proper, which is done as 
follows :—I made a small stop-cock, on the cap of the glass, un- 
der the valve, which when the glass and syringe is used in drawing 
up the skin, by turning the stop-cock, makes it completely air- 
tight, so that it is impossible for the glasses to fall off, until you 
may think proper to remove them. 1 have the pleasure of pre- 
senting several certificates from some of the most respectable of 
the faculty, who have obligingly given me their opinion; and if 
you, gentlemen, should require further explanation respectingmy 
* From Transactions of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, §c. for 
1813.—The Society’s lesser silver medal was voted for this communication. 
artificial 
