Mad Medicine

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Invertebrate Practitioners

Documented: Maggots and leeches are still used in modern medicine

Medieval-sounding treatment with maggots and leeches is still used; the former to debride dead tissue from wounds, the latter to prevent excessive blood accumulation after transplants. The latter, particularly, differs from the traditional use (in bleeding). References: Isr Med Assoc J. 1999 Nov;1(3):221; J R Soc Med 2000 Feb;93(2):72-4.