18 On the Hirudo Australis. 



faculty, who here, as in all countries, are foremost in advo- 

 cating the cause of sanatory reform, and who, with a total 

 abnegation of self-interest, spend both time and money in 

 endeavoring to prevent the consequences that must inevitably 

 arise, either from the ignorance or culpable carelessness of 

 those who are most interested. 



Having pointed out the evil and its probable remedy, I would 

 observe that, totally independent of the benefits that would 

 arise from the cultivation of the swamp in a monetary point 

 of view, it is a matter of paramount importance to get rid of 

 existing and dangerous nuisances. 



I lay these suggestions before the Institute, trusting that, 

 in the importance of the subject, any imperfections will be 

 overlooked ; and that, in a short time, some active steps will 

 be taken to remove those causes which, sooner or later, will 

 operate with fearful effect in decimating our population. 



Art. III. — On the Hirudo Australis. By Jos. Bosisto, 

 Esq., President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Mel- 

 bourne. 



[Read before the Institute, 5th May, 1858.] 



The difficulty of maintaining leeches in a healthy condition, 

 away from their native waters, has induced me to make some 

 experiments on the subject. 



I have succeeded beyond my expectations, not only in pre- 

 serving them from disease, and lowering the per-centage of 

 deaths to a trifle, but also in their production apart from their 

 native haunts. 



This being the time of year when they yield their ova or 

 cocoons, I thought, as the subject was novel, and partook of 

 a scientific character, it might not be unpleasing to exhibit 

 specimens of some kinds of leech to be met with in this 

 country, and the cocoons of the Hirudo Australis, as well as 

 give the result of my observations on the preservation of the 

 leech in general. 



Leeches are to be found in most of the lagoons, pools, and 

 creeks of this country, and although these contain a fair 

 description of the blood-sucking leech, yet there are to be 

 found those allied in appearance, as well as in the incapability 

 of perforating the human skin, termed by Savigny the 

 " Hoemopis Sanguisorba," or horse-leech. 



