[445] People suffering from boils, toothache, swellings of the face, piles and other diseases have leeches applied to them.

For toothache the leeches are placed inside the mouth on the gum for two days in succession.

There are two kinds of leeches known as Bhainsa-jonk, the large or buffalo-leech, and Rai-jonk, the small leech.

They are found in the mud of stagnant tanks and in broken-down wells, and are kept in earthen vessels in a mixture of black soil and water; and in this condition they will go without food for months and also breed.

Some patients object to having their blood taken out of the house, and in such cases powdered turmeric is given to the leeches to make them disgorge, and the blood of the patient is buried inside the house.