WATCH: See How Leeches Can Be A Surgeon's Sidekick
The idea of using leeches to treat ailments is ancient — and no longer in favor. But now these blood-suckers are gaining new respect as a doctor's helper during surgery.
Editor's Note: The video of leeches used in surgery is a bit bloody — especially after the 2-minute mark.
Leeches get a bad rap — but they might not deserve it.
Yes, they're creepy crawly blood-suckers. And they can instill an almost primal sense of disgust and revulsion. Humphrey Bogart's character in the 1951 film The African Queen even went so far as to call them "filthy little devils."
But the humble leech is making a comeback. This critter is increasingly playing a key role as a sidekick for scientists and doctors, simply by being its bloodthirsty
