Decode the exquisite ceramic vase used to feed unsuspecting horror animals

Nearly the whole of the 19th century, Western society was like crazy because of leeches. During this period, no matter what kind of illness they were, they pulled out leeches to suck blood.

The cause is also in the way of thinking of cultivating the concept of translation . Traditional Western medicine believes that every disease in the body is caused by a fluid imbalance (blood, sputum, black bile and yellow bile). Just sick is they sting blood, believing that is the way to regain the fastest balance.

In the early nineteenth century, François Joseph Victor Broussais, an eloquent French medical doctor preached that, to give blood leeches the most effective method of blood injection . He took himself as an example, only need to be full of stomach, indigestion and drop 50-60 leeches on him.

In the nineteenth century, Western society seemed to be crazy about leeches.

Suddenly exploding, it was so crazy that I almost killed the leech

We all know, leeches are animals of the Fireworm (Annelida), slippery body, live in water, use blood as food. Since ancient times, Oriental medicine has known the treatment of bruising blood, hematoma, pimples with leeches.

The earliest medical record of the therapy is "Sushruta Samhita" of India, written in Sanskrit around 800 BC. Followed by China's "Shennong Shen Man" . In the West, the treatment of leeches before the 19th century is also available. It's just that it is not very popular, very little attention.

Leech is an animal belonging to the burning worm (Annelida), slippery body, living in water.

It must be affirmed, Broussais is the cause of the rampant outbreak. Broussais himself is a well-known doctor. His words are extremely trusted. Once Broussais praised leeches as "the best treatment vampire" , of course they all believed.

François Joseph Victor Broussais, who started the leech fever in Europe.

Blinking one by one, the whole Western world was crazy about leeches. In France alone, more than 1 billion leeches are used every year for therapeutic purposes. The most miserable is the European populations of leeches. Within 50 years, this tall, uncounted creature has been caught to nearly extinction.

Not stopping in Europe, leech fever also spread to America. At the time of scarcity, 100 leeches were worth $ 5 - equivalent to nearly $ 100 today (about 2.3 million VND). Many people get rich thanks to leeches, ready to "donate" pairs of prey as bait, stand to soak their feet in ponds, and wait for the leech to bite. If convenient, each session they can "sentence" from 100-150 children.

The suffering of therapy: Being put on salt in the mouth, forced to "vomit"

In fact, leech therapy in the 19th century did not require any advanced medical skills.It simply starts to drop on the body position that needs to be sucked from the patient's blood and then sits waiting.

Leech is a voracious species. While sniffing the smell of blood, they immediately plugged their mouths. No belly, leech. Being in nature is hardly ever a meal, the house is adaptive by eating once enough for several months. They are not in a hurry but slowly digest.

In a time of rampaging leeches, the West came to exhaust the leech populations.

There was something in the fever of therapy with leeches, the physicians didn't wait for the digestive leeches to go all over, but also put salt in their mouths, forcing them to vomit blood to continue using it.

Specially made specialized bottles for leeches

It is not difficult to feed leeches, but to keep them in one place is not easy. Although living under water, leeches can still manage on land. In particular, they are capable of starving for several months. It is not difficult to leech, find a new place to live.

Except for the use of therapeutic leeches in medical facilities and in the early West, the prevalence of algae treatment was prevalent. "Doctors walking" carry leeches to the patient's home.

"Doctors walking" carry leeches to the patient's home.

Pottery pots are long-term items, but they are not convenient to hold leeches. Type with lid is tight, causing suffocation. The type without the cap is leisurely crawling out.

Recognizing the problem, the Western pottery profession created a special pot, specifically for the purpose of keeping leeches . They are just like any other type of ceramic lid, just perforated (on the lid or neck) for convenient air access.

Increasing the value of leeches, to the gold plating

There is a dedicated pot, the healing activity is more extensive. It is estimated that every year in Europe there are about 50-100 million leeches locked up in bottles by seaweed doctors, embraced everywhere.

In fact, an average holder at that time could hold at most 250 children. It's easy to distinguish them from other types of ceramic, because of the big LEECHES logo .

Ceramic vase keeps leeches.

When medical treatment goes by the way, it becomes too common, competition inevitably occurs. Perhaps it is because there is no need for superior medical ability, but people are rushing to revamp the vase.

The leech holder quickly moved from a specialized type to an artistic look. Not only are they elaborately and elegantly shaped, they are also able to draw beautiful patterns. Sometimes, "leeches" don't regret, swinging their gold-plated hands at them.

Even the "world in vases" is also renewed. Instead of just pouring water, people carefully spread gravel and seaweed for leeches.

The leech holder quickly moved from a specialized type to an artistic look.

Then all suddenly collapsed. Like reused needles, "reuse" leeches contribute to the spread of infectious diseases, such as syphilis, puerperal fever. Entering the beginning of the 20th century, the method of treatment with leeches completely disappeared, leading to the general report of leeches.

Until recently, through rigorous medical control, new therapies were reused. Particularly, its one-time dedicated pottery cannot be restored to its golden age forever.