Leeches used for Modern Medicine

             Leeches have been used on thousands of patients that have had a finger or toe cut off and have had it reattached. The use of leeches has helped to prevent blood clotting so the blood vessels have a chance to regrow. In the following paragraphs I will try to persuade you that the use of leeches could be a very important tool for future medical procedures. .
             Leeches are bloodsucking worms that are in the same large classification of earthworms and some oceanic worms. Leeches are found in freshwater lakes, ponds, and some rivers. They range from five millimeters to about 18 inches. A leech attaches itself to a host by its suckers that bite into the hosts flesh. It then sucks the blood from the host. A person bitten by a leech may not even notice it until afterwards, when the person sees the bite marks or the trickle of blood.
             There are only a few purposes for leeches to be used in medical procedures, but what they do is very important. Leeches produce a chemical called hirudin in their saliva. Hirudin prevents blood clotting. A leech can also help reduce swelling on any tissue that is holding too much blood. The only kind of leeches that can be used in medical procedures are the ones that have been raised in the laboratory under sterile conditions. The hirudin from a leech is about ten times more effective than the drug that is being used today to prevent blood clotting. The drug that is being used today is called haparin. .
             In the aftercare for the patients, the leeches must be removed by using heat or an acid substance. If you try to pull it off, you will not get the whole leech off. The leeches are then killed in an alcohol solution and then are disposed of properly. One of the only risks of using leeches is the patient losing too much blood. In conclusion, I hope I have persuaded you that the use of leeches can be a very important tool for future medical procedures.