I don’t know if they still do it, but years ago when I visited the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop in Fredericksburg, Virginia (USA) they had a large jar of leaches. The docent giving the program handled them in front of the group. Mind you, none of them were affixed to a visitor.

http://www.apva.org/HughMercerApothecaryShop/

My colleagues in our education department are planning some sessions around the theme of medicine. Does anyone out there have experience of using real leaches in their education sessions? Or has anyone seen them being used somewhere else?

Leeanne Westwood | Museum Curator, Heritage Services

Valence House Museum | London Borough of Barking and Dagenham | Becontree Avenue | Dagenham | RM8 3HT