9 Antique Medical Devices to Make You Happy It's 2016

1. Leech CaseIf you’re going to stick leeches on patients, it’s good to have a snazzy-looking carrying case for them. This case is one of countless antique medical devices and other artifacts from medical history that can be discovered at The Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. (Halloween is an especially popular time to visit the museum.)The use of leeches for bloodletting goes back thousands of years in many civilizations. It was only until the late 19th century that medical practitioners realized that bloodletting was harmful and could hasten patient deaths. However, a substance called hirudin that leeches excrete has been investigated for its useful anticoagulant properties, Mütter Museum director Robert Hicks, PhD, explains in the video below as he holds his pet leech Hunter.Continue >>