Mechanical leech


Title
Mechanical leech
Description
During the 19th century leeches were used as a means to remove blood from the body to restore the balance of health as described by humoral theory. French civil engineer M. Alexander invented the artificial leech, sending a wave of excitement through the scientific world. In 1849 the New York Herald reported “they never fail, they give no pain, they cause no trouble, they inoculate with no disease, they do not crawl and scare one, and wriggle and refuse to bite.” During the 20th century, the practice of leeching almost disappeared in the US. Now, however, artificial leeches are making a come back, with a new design being developed at the University of Wisconsin.
Date
1849
Original Format
equipment
Extent
Local Identifier
Country Doctor Museum
Subject(s)
Location of Original
Country Doctor Museum
Rights
This item has been made available by The Country Doctor Museum for use in research, teaching, and private study. Researchers are responsible for using these materials in accordance with Title 17 of the United States Code and any other applicable statutes. For information regarding reproduction, please contact The Country Doctor Museum at hslcdm@ecu.edu;
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Permalink
https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/14362
Preferred Citation
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