Class VI. W O R M S. > 37 



Inhabits flanding waters. The bed of phlebo- 

 tomifls, cfpecially in hemorrhoids. The practice 

 is as old as the time of Pliny, who gives it the 

 apt name of hirudo fangnifuga. Leeches were ufed 

 inftead of cupping-glades for perfons of plethoric 

 habits, and thofe who were troubled with the gout 

 in the itzx.. He aiTerts, that if they left their head 

 in the wound, as fometimes happened, it was in- 

 curable ; and informs us, that Mejfalinus, a perfon 

 of confular dignity, loll his life by fuch an acci- 

 dent *. 



H. Lin. Syft. ^ Faun. Suec. No. 2078, Sanguifuga* 



Kirudo maxime apud ncs vulgaris. Rati infefl. 3. iz.^Horse, 



L. with a depreffed body; in the bottom of the 

 mouth are certain great fharp tubercles or whitilh 

 caruncles. The (tendered part is about the mouth ; 

 the thickeft towards the tail •, the tail itfelf very 

 ilender \ the belly of a yeJlowilh green ; the back 

 dufky. 



Inhabits {landing waters. 



Leeches are good barometers, when p refer ved 

 in glades, and predict bad weather by their great 

 redleffnefs and change of place. 



* Lib. xxxii. c. 10. 



D 2 P» £**• 



