Re: Information regarding medical leeches

Georgina,

Hirudo medicinalis  aka...The medicinal leech, as its name suggests, has 
historically been used for medicinal purposes, mainly to remove "bad 
blood" from the diseased. Around 1850 this practice fell into disrepute, 
but H. medicinalis is again becoming of value in medicinal practices. 
Today this species is used to relieve pressure and restore circulation in 
tissue grafts where blood accumulation is likely such as severed fingers 
and ears. The anticoagulant of leeches is also a fertile ground of 
research for surgeries in which an incision must be kept open. In 
addition, leech saliva is found to contain powerful antibiotics and 
anaesthetics which no doubt will prove useful in future medicinal practice 
(Sawyer, 1986). 

They are available for purchase and there is more information you can see 
at these sites : 
http://
www.biopharm-
leeches.com/ 
 http://www.assileeches.com/
prices.htm 

They run about seven dollars apiece.