Leeches?

[The Saucepan Man]

... in the middle ages, leeches were used in the practice of medicine and is still used for some treatments today.

Quite correct. In medieval times, leeches were used as a form of medical treatment. I believe (though I am no expert) that this is linked with the belief that the body was made up of four kinds of humour (or fluid), which were believed to influence a person's health. So, an excess of one type of humour was thought to cause disease and it was believed that a person could be healed by applying leeches to the body to draw out the excessive humour. It is because of this practice that doctors became known as "leeches", although I would imagine that the reference in the book is to the treatment rather than the practitioner.

Incidentallly, it is true that leeches are still used in medical treatment today [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] - although I think that there is now more of a scientific basis for it.

Edit: Actually, having now seen the quote, I agree with Beren87 - the reference seems to be to the practitioner, not the practice.

[ March 03, 2003: Message edited by: The Saucepan Man ]