HIRUDO MEDICINALIS. M5 



tation to the patient, especially when the operation is to be fre- 

 quently repeated. From the smallness and superficial nature of 

 their wound, the mildness and safety of their operation, and the 

 local nature of the depletion, they are in many inflammatory com- 

 plaints more convenient and efficacious than the lancet, and much 

 safer in their operation. They are most beneficially employed in 

 inflammations of the eye, the joints, and the testis ; in hemor- 

 rhoidal tumors ; in schirrous swellings of the breast ; in buboes, 

 scrofulous and sympathetic, as well as venereal ; in pneumonia, 

 hepatitis, angina, and every other case of increased vascular 

 action, in which it is essential to diminish the usual impetus of 

 the blood, as in apoplexy. 



The best mode of applying leeches, is to take them out of the 

 water for some minutes before they are used, and to dry them well 

 with a very soft cloth, previously to their application. The part 

 should also be well washed with soap and water, and afterwards 

 with water alone, which will be more necessary should any lini- 

 ment or embrocation have been used. It is the common practice 

 to put as many of them as may be required into a small wine-glass, 

 and to invert it upon the part on which it is intended they shall 

 fix. When they cannot be easily made to bite, the part should be 

 first cooled with a cloth dipped in cold water, or it may be 

 moistened with a little blood, milk, or syrup. When it is wished 

 to apply them very exactly on a particular spot, it will be advis- 

 able to put them into a small glass tube, or large quill cut at both 

 ends, and apply the end at which the head of the animal lies to the 

 part, with the finger over the other end, as recommended by 

 Dr. A. T. Thompson, or to puncture the part with a lancet. As soon 

 as the leeches are gorged, they drop off spontaneously ; this usually 

 happens in ten or fifteen minutes ; but they may be separated at 

 any time by sprinkling a little salt on the head. As salt, however, 

 frequently blisters the leech, it has been proposed to empty the 

 animal by regular and uniform pressure ; but though Dr. Johnston 

 considers this plan preferable to the other, he admits that it is 

 scarcely practicable without injuring the external structure of the 

 leech. He says, the best method, and that from which the 

 animal suffers the least inconvenience, is pouring a small quantity 



