“They might visibly squirm and distort their faces as they described the leeches and their need to be close to and manipulate them.” They described them as “the black slug,” “bloodsucking, slimy bugs,” and “creepy crawlies.” Other things they didn’t like: that the leech, that “dirty walking needle,” went against all their training: hygiene control was paramount, yet a live creature full of potentially toxic blood was moving around their hygienic hospital ward.
