Victorian Leech Jars

[Eleanor Rose]

(Wikimedia Commons)
​

Victorians seemed to believe leeches could cure everything so all across America, elaborate, eye-catching leech jars took over window displays at most respectable pharmacies. The more respectable the pharmacy, the more ornate the leech jar. From the outside, these jars looked just like any other decorative vase except for two distinct details. First, they had a constellation of perforations in the lid for air and second, they carried the word "LEECHES" in all caps. The fancy jars placed on public display only held one day's supply of leeches. Pharmacists kept the rest of their stock out back in a larger holding tank. Under ideal conditions, a two-gallon ornate jar filled a third of the way with water could hold up to 250 leeches.

(Wikimedia Commons)​

The Victorian obsession with leeches plateaued in the mid-19th century and began to wane at the beginning of the 20th century. This was due in part to the unsustainable demand and the growing suspicion that draining vast quantities of a person's blood wasn't actually the best way to fix a headache.

 

[Kurt G]

Leeches are now used for certain situations in modern medicine .

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Leeches are now used for certain situations in modern medicine .

I've read leeches are useful in cosmetic surgery. The idea gives me the heebie jeebies.

 

[Mrs. V]

I use rubber leeches in my first person impression. She talks about how they help restore blood flow to fingers and toes..but she doesn't know why...same thing with boiling her bandages..her patients do better...she boils the bandeages btw because she doesn't like dried blood on her hands. "it smells abominable!"

 

[Peace Society]

Leeches are now used for certain situations in modern medicine .

If, say, a reattached ear or finger is swelling with black blood, leeches relieve the swelling and encourage the in-and-out flow of blood to cleanse the area.

 

[Mrs. V]

If, say, a reattached ear or finger is swelling with black blood, leeches relieve the swelling and encourage the in-and-out flow of blood to cleanse the area.

Yes they do! Also used for fingers and toes damaged either by accident or temperature. Of course these are medical leeches, not the ones that like to attach themselves your legs/ankles/feet in the wild..we get teeny leeches at the lake, so you have to wear swim shoes..otherwise you are salting them and feelin em squirm against your flesh..ewwwww!

 

[lupaglupa]

I know they are one of God's creatures and all but... ugh! I must have seen that scene in Stand By Me at an impressionable age.

 

[Mrs. V]

I know they are one of God's creatures and all but... ugh! I must have seen that scene in Stand By Me at an impressionable age.

Don't know the scene, but I do remember the guys in field school getting huuuge leeches on their legs while surveying ponds and areas that are intermittently open to the lake..in fact, that is where we caught the bowfin. Crazy prehistoric looking fish. And they jump! Right out of the field school tank in fact. It was found once..and put back in the tank..the second time..yeah, no one was around. Honestly, they should have released it after the first escape.

 

[Llewellyn]

Maggots are still used in some quarters to debride pre-gangrenous flesh.

Ye Gods, men and little fishes !!!

 

[bankerpapaw]

I despise those things. In Vietnam, they would get around our boot tops. Sheesh!!