Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 164, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1914 — Leech Breeding. [ARTICLE]

Leech Breeding.

Breeding leeches is the occupation of a class of people called “Chohra" in the United Provinces of India. In April or May selected leeches are put into earthen pots with “hair-cleaning clay" and a little water, and the pots are put out of reach of all disturb-, ances, tor the leeches are very sen-’ sitltive when laying their cocoons. When these are formed, and have hardened, they are picked up and put into closed cups oPhlay, which are changed every alternate day for a fortnight. Then the breeders help the young leeches out by breaking the shells. Each cocoon contains five or six young ones. The young leeches are reared in fresh wgter, and the breeder gives them meals from his own body. Those that are sold for medical purposes are said to lose their power of breeding; M> special “seed leeches" are put aside. The Chohra cleans a gorged leech by puncturing It dorgally near the head and pressing the blood out from the t'JU forwards.