John--

While unable to provide a source for you, we did have them every year for "Doctor's Day" when physicians from different fields would set up tables and do fun medical-type activities with families (teddy-bear clinic, color-blindness tests, blood pressure screenings, etc.)  

The leeches were brought in by a plastic surgeon/skin doctor who actually used them in his practice (not on the museum floor with visitors though--they were just in a mini-aquarium!).  So maybe there's someone in your medical community that would know.

Sorry not to know a more direct reference.

--Todd Happer
Scientific American

On 3/2/01, John Martinson <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>Well, now that I have your attention!!  <smile>
>
>Seriously, now really...stop your laughing!  
>
>We have a drug store display and discussing early medical procedures, 
>and
>leeches were used.  Does anyone know where to get real living leeches? 
> And
>also how
>to care for the little creatures?   At another site I worked, we 
>used strips
>of liver to simulate a leech, but they want the real thing here. 
> And by the
>way, what do you feed them?  
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>John Martinson
>Curator of Collections
>

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