HOW LEECHES ARE FED. 221 



completely gorged. The victims are then taken back 

 to a poor pasture, where they painfully endeavour to 

 regain the blood which they have lost. They are thus 

 tortured five or six times a-month. It is shocking to 

 see them at these periods, which are usually from the 

 beginning of April to the 15th June, and then from the 

 beginning of October to the 15th November. 



Horses are much preferred to all the other animals 

 we have mentioned. Cows feed leeches well, provided 

 they can be got into the water above the knee ; other- 

 wise, with their rough tongues they easily shake off the 

 leeches. Asses would be esteemed on account of their 

 docility, but their narrow feet sink too deeply in the 

 bottom of the marshes. But the unhappy donkeys are 

 not permitted thus to escape. M. Franceschi, of Bor- 

 deaux, is the inventor of what may be styled drawers 

 for donkeys ; their legs being enveloped in these, the 

 drawers are. filled with leeches, in proportion to their 

 size, and in the hope that the health of the animals may 

 not suffer. We are glad that this hope is not fulfilled, 

 and that in 1854 the ingenious barbarity of M. Frances- 

 chi resulted in the death of all the donkeys so maltreat- 

 ed. M. Jourdier's sensibility is pained by this brutal 

 mode of feeding ; and yet, while sympathising with the 

 suffering animals, he gives the advice that they shall 

 always be in good health -for the sake of the leeches ! 

 Just as the friend of a cannibal might, from anxiety 

 about his health, counsel him only to feed on healthy 

 men ! 



There is need, however, for M. Jourdier's advice, for 

 in the horse-market for leeches at Bastide all kinds of 

 rascality is rife, in order to get rid of disabled or diseased 

 animals. The horse-dealers of Bordeaux are at least 

 a match for those of Paris ; and their efforts to hide 

 defects are always culpable, sometimes comical, but 

 generally distressing. M. Jourdier's excellent friend, 

 L'Heritier of the Pays, was so saddened by what he 

 saw that he had no wish to visit the marshes. 



