ABOUT LEECHES
In old books we find that doctors are called “leeches,” and it is sometimes said that a person “clings like a leech.” In Wyclif’s translation of the New Testament, he renders the sentence: "Physician, heal thyself,” as “Leech, heal thyself.” In both cases the reference is to a water creature that is a relation of the worm, and is somewhat worm-like in appearance. The most familiar variety of leech in England is the common horseleech, which is found in almost every standing pond and sluggish stream. It is about three inches long, dark olive green above, and yellowish green beneath. It is not the leech used by doctors for blood-letting, formerly a favourite operation. That is the medicinal leech, which is normally about three inches long, but can be extended to six or seven inches. It used to be common in English waters, but is rare- I ly seen now, except in captivity. It was their use of the leech for bloodletting that caused doctors to be called “leeches.” Leeches travel in water by swimming, but on land they move from place to place by means of their suckers.
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Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 13 February 1941, Page 2
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191ABOUT LEECHES Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 13 February 1941, Page 2
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