This is a large china container in which leeches were kept for medicinal purposes. Leeches are blood sucking parasites which were used by doctors to suck blood from patients. This was thought to reduce blood pressure and cure all kinds of other ailments.

Return to last page

Roll over this photo to switch between the leech jar in the museum's collection and a photograph of Rossiters Chemists in Tivertonin 1901.

Agriculture • Brunel • Childhood • Clothing • Cooking & Cleaning • Education & Science • Factory Life • Heating & Lighting • Leisure • Personal Health • Public Services • Transport • Victorian Legacy