Dark Banquet by Bill Schutt

Author:Bill Schutt
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Paranormal.Vampires, Non-fiction, History, Science
ISBN: 9780307381125
Publisher: Harmony
Published: 2008-10-14T00:00:00+00:00

Besides their ability to draw off accumulating blood at surgical reattachment or transfer sites, researchers are currently exploring the possibility that leech “saliva” contains a virtual cornucopia of pharmacologically active compounds, including antihistamines and antibiotics.

“Hirudo and some of its relatives may offer alternative treatments for ailments ranging from osteoarthritis to the circulatory problems associated with diabetes,” said Rudy Rosenberg.

The latter was a condition that Rosenberg had faced in the early 1980s after he received a call from his sister in San Diego.

“She said that one of my mother’s legs was completely discolored and that doctors wanted to amputate it immediately. She was eighty-two years old at the time.”

Rudy recounted how he instructed his sister to hold off on approving the surgery until he got there. Then he talked to his mom about an idea he had.

“I asked her if I could try to restore the circulation to her leg by using leeches. She agreed and off I went.”

Rudy plopped twelve leeches into a jar filled with distilled water, sealed it tight, and headed to the airport, having booked the first flight to San Diego.

“When I got out there I could see that her leg was in bad shape. It was nearly black, and when I tried to apply the first leech, it refused to bite.”

By now I was leaning forward, literally perched at the end of my chair.

“I abraded the skin a bit, and about fifteen minutes later the second leech finally took hold. Within ten minutes her toes started to turn pink.”

“That’s incredible,” I said.

“Yes, that’s what I thought too. I wound up treating her for three days.”

“And…?”

Rudy grinned, glancing up at the framed photo of a smiling woman seated on a chair. She could have passed for Albert Einstein’s mom. “And she lived to be ninety-seven—with both of her legs.”*85

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