The contemporary use of the medicinal leech.

Over 100 000 patients with head injuries are admitted to General Hospitals every year in Britain (Jennet, 1978). A fair proportion of these have periorbital haematoma. Evacuation of the haematoma using a leech is a painless procedure which can be carried out by a nurse. It allows the patient to open his eye and see immediately, relieving him of discomfort and disfigurement. It allows the doctor or nurse to open the eye easily and painlessly for observation of pupil size and reaction. Leeches are cheap and very easily kept.