472 Veterinary Medicine. 



the back, and with ventral aspect reddish or olive. It is marked 

 by minute black spots closely aggregated, and along its borders 

 by an orange or brownish'red band. It is reported to be common 

 in Europe from Sweden to Portugal and Turkey, in Syria, 

 Algiers, the Canary Isles, and North America. The mature 

 leeches burrow in the mud, while the young disport themselves 

 freely in the water. They attack man or any domestic animal 

 that may come in their way, but they are especially troublesome, 

 when taken with the drinking water, fastening themselves on the 

 nostrils, lips, gums, tongue, palate, soft palate, pharynx, larynx 

 or trachea. They may penetrate into the posterior nares, or even 

 the stomach. 



The Aulastomum Gulo or Vorax, and the Nephelis Vul- 

 garis, which frequent British ponds and streams, are often con- 

 founded with the horse > leech and are about equally dangerous 

 and troublesome. The first of these is characterized by two large 

 caeca extending backward from the stomach. The Nephelis is 

 about 3 inches long when extended, with dorsum brownish yel- 

 low and tesselated, and belly olive. 



In damp, tropical countries land leeches are common, living 

 among damp leaves in thickets during the dry season, and 

 assuming great voracity in the rainy season, when they fasten 

 themselves on man or animal that may invade their habitat. 

 Among these may be naniedjHaemadipsia Ceylonica (Ceylon), 

 Hirudo Tagala (Philippines), small leeches no thicker than a 

 knitting needle when fasting, but very voracious. Similar leeches 

 infest other tropical and semi-tropical countries as Java, Sumatra, 

 Australia, Malay Peninsula, Burmah, China, Japan, Chili, and 

 Brazil. In the Philippines they are found at an elevation of 

 4,000 feet, and in the Himalayas of 10,000 feet. The Blind 

 leeches cyliobdella lumbricorides, of damp earth in Brazil may 

 be simply named in this connection. These land leeches, in the 

 rainy season, climb upon vegetables, shrubs and trees, and seize 

 upon their victims whenever available. It is, however, from the 

 mud, leaves, grass and low vegetation that they are to be especi- 

 ally dreaded, as they will attach themselves in clusters to the bare 

 feet, ankles and legs of persons and to the feet and limbs of ani- 

 mals, and, by the frequency and abundance of the resulting de- 

 pletion, they cause anaemia, weakness and general debility. 



