TIII: YAIMF.TIF.S OF i i:i:< IIFS. 837 



. Tin rnrirtirx of l.mhex. The trims Spani>h Let-Hies" and "Swedish Lcccho" have ill this 

 country lost their distinctive meaning. We are informed by a large importer Ilia) the Spanish 

 Leech was a smaJl green Leech brought here occasionally, thirty or forty years ago, by sea 

 captains. The\ \\cre inl'crior to other varieties, and during tin- pa>t twenty \earn none have 

 been brought into the country, at least not through regular import inn houses. Tlic name 

 Spanish Leech" is, however. Mill used in the trade, and we ha\r heard it frequently referred to 

 liy cuppers and leechers. who are pn>bal>ly ignorant of tfie real sources of their supplies. AH to 

 the Swedish Leeches, they were probably the first variety brought to this country when the 

 import trade began some fifty years ago. They then came from the country whence they 

 derived their name. Since the beginning of leecli-cnltnre iu France, this same Leech has been 

 raised there artificially, and it is claimed that tin- American supplies from France arc wholly of 

 this kind. The Leeches used in England are also said to lie mostly descendants of the Swedish 

 stock raised in France. Having been shipped originally to London by way of Hamburg, they 

 received there the name of Hamburg Leeches, which they still retain. The Leeches used almost 

 exclusively in France come from a native stock, which is now propagated artificially. The> arc 

 small and of a green color. 



In the (ienuanleech trade two 1 kinds of Leeches are recognized, one of which is called the 

 dermaii Leech and the other the Hungarian Leech. The former has a black s|M>t ted In-lly, while 

 in the latter the belly is uniform in color. The first is a native of Germany, where it has become 

 rare on account of the extent to which it has been caught up. It is now raised artificially. The 

 Hungarian Leech is imported from Hungary, whence come most of the supplies now used in 

 < lei-many. Other sources of supply are the principalities of the Danube and I'lagacx en I Nisei i. 

 Tin- Island of Porto liico and other islands of the West Indies are said to contain medicinal 

 Leeches. Most of the South American countries, however, on both sides are supplied from 

 Europe via the United States, and Mexico receives some supplies from the same source. 



