why do they do all this stuff?

I almost threw up when I saw his mouth full of leeches.

How to remove leech from body properly

Removal of the leech

Salt, salt water or vinegar will cause an actively sucking leech to vomit and fall off. A leech will usually fall off after 20 minutes of attachment without any treatment.

DO NOT pull the leech off as the skin may be torn and ulceration may follow or parts of the jaw may remain and set up infection. Applying heat to the leech (e.g. applying a hot coal or lit cigarette) may result in burns to the patient so is not recommended.
Treatment

Wash with soap and water.

Apply a cold pack if there is significant pain or swelling.

Apply pressure if there is bleeding from the bite.

Seek medical attention if the area becomes infected or if a wound or ulcer develops.

Even if you have never been bitten by a leech before, watch for the following symptoms, they may indicate a serious allergic or anaphylactic reaction, which requires urgent medical attention:

* red blotches on the skin or an itchy rash over the body
* swelling in parts of the body away from the bitten area, especially the lips and around the eyes
* feeling faint, light-headed or dizzy
* breathing difficulties: wheeze, shortness of breath, chest tightness

Biologist Jörg Graf researches bacteria in the bellies of bloodsuckers.

Many patients these days suffer from immune system deficiencies. Thus it is important for doctors to know which bacteria live in the blood of a leech before they decide whether to use leeches as medical treatment. It is also important to know which bacteria are in there which prevent infection. As with all living creatures, leeches are not sterile; and are the home of many bacteria. If a leech is squeezed as it is removed from the skin, it may regurgitate into the fresh wound. This can lead to infection. As leech therapy is used more and more, the need for studies of the bacteria in the bellies of the beasts is becoming more and more important.


Until recently it was assumed that leech stomach bacteria were all aerobic; however, new studies point to a richer array of bacterial dwellers. Jörg Graf, a German biologist and researcher at the University of Connecticut, has been studying leeches intensively for years. His team has succeeded in verifying and breeding another breed of bacteria. The new bacteria are anaerobic and propagate only in oxygen-free chambers.