Fun Fact for the Day

I am researching medical history right now.  Mostly it's annoying, but the last book had tons of fantastic info.

Everyone knows about leeches and bloodletting, but all the paintings show opening an arm vein and leeches on the neck or face maybe.
Did you know that bleeding and leeches were one of the most common and respected treatments for periodontal disease?  Dentists throughout history would cut and bleed and cauterize the gums when they were infected. But the procedure that was considered more effective was leeches. Carefully placed on the abscess in your mouth. It would take minutes to insure attachment so it didn't slip and get swallowed  And they had to stay there a while.  

You're welcome.