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Re: Leeches (Re: Metric Time (was Re: Why not 13 months? (Was La Systeme Metrique))
Steven B. Harris/Virginia George (sbharris@ix.netcom.com)
15 Oct 1995 01:47:41 GMT
In <45n0es$dle@crcnis3.unl.edu> raccoon@cse.unl.edu (Joshua Hesse)
writes:
>
>Dave Ratcliffe (dave@frackit.com) wrote:
>: In article <1995Oct12.160919.16592@unislc.slc.unisys.com>, "G.
Merrill Dodge" <MDodge@slcpo2.slc.unisys.com> writes:
>: - idaniel@jesus.ox.ac.uk (Illtud Daniel) wrote:
>: - >No they haven't. There's a leech farm in South Wales which is
doing
>: - >very nicely thanks.
>: - >
>: - True, true. They are used in the reattachment of severed
limbs/digits. It
>: - seems that the leeches prevent the buildup of fluids at the
healing site
>: - that would otherwise eventually impede the healing and allow
gangrene to
>: - start. And since the leeches used are free of harmful pathogens,
they are
>: - useful in this regard.
>: -
>: - Still, it does seeem kind of creepy. What next? Bleeding?
>
>: Maggots to eat away necrotic tissue. It's already being done.
>
>Don't forget the *AMAZING* Tapeworm diet pill ;)
>
Bleeding never quite left us, either. It's the main treatment for
hemochromatosis (a fairly common disease, dispite the name), and it's
also often used in the treatment of polycythemia rubra vera.
Steve Harris, M.D.
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