Small 19th-century blown glass sangsue jar - leech jar 8¼"

Originally used for holding live medical leeches or "sangsues", this superb, small blown glass jar dates from the nineteenth century and is French. The shape of the jar was designed to keep the thirsty leeches contained! This will make a lovely addition to a collection of antique glassware.

Leeches have been used in French medical practices for centuries, particularly highlighted during the 18th and 19th centuries when bloodletting was a common treatment prescribed by doctors. In France, the use of leeches peaked during the 1830s, with millions being employed annually for various therapies, including relieving congestion and restoring bodily balance by drawing blood. The practice was rooted in the belief that many illnesses were caused by an excess of blood.