Leech: (Animal)

In Leech, Robert G. W. Kirk and Neil Pemberton explore how this creature repeatedly surfaces throughout human history, featuring in radically different practices; from the humoral medicine of the ancients to twenty-first-century cosmetic surgery, from nineteenth-century meteorological barometer to twentieth-century biomedical tool that helped to win a Nobel Prize, the leech has been often present and always surprising. A horror and a healer, the leech has reared its head in many unexpected places and practices, revealing this creature to be among humanity's most enduring and peculiar companions.

About the Author :
Robert G. W. Kirk is a Wellcome Research Fellow in the Centre for the History of Science Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester. Neil Pemberton is a Research Associate in the Centre for the History of Science Technology and Medicine, University of Manchester.

Review :
Kirk and Pemberton are as fond of their subject as those bygone physicians, but they are particularly interested in its cultural symbolism. While there is plenty of solid science in this book, the most distinctive sections deal with the psychology of being bled, and our temerity for daring to equate the leech with all things nasty in ourselves. This book shies away from the facile association of leeches with parasites to view them, instead, as a symbiotic relationship with humankind, whereby both man and leech have benefited from the creatures extraordinary abilities. This short but rich volume thus explores the leech as both animal and symbol, from ancient medical remedy to modern horror film, from emblem of capitalism to biomedical tool . . . Well illustrated and engagingly written . . . the authors ably tie their historical and cultural research to the natural history of the leech, offering an interesting perspective on the history of science. The authors aim to go beyond the human point of view is what makes the book a compelling read. It is not just a reiteration of the leechs role in medicine and nature, but a constant blurring of boundaries between them and us, biology and culture, science and society. However, the most captivating thing about the book is this: while the steady stream of fascinating information about leeches counteracts our deeply-ingrained fear and feelings of disgust, a readers newly found admiration is severely put to the test by accompanying images of leeches writhing on human skin, sucking blood . . . it is precisely this tension between images and text that constantly forces the reader to reflect on thewhy of their reaction, leaving the culturally conditioned, almost somatic responses to battle it out with the growing appreciation of this wonderful animal. This is the kind ofbook that is not passively consumed rather, one cannot but actively engage with the authors imperative Let us learn to love the leech!