Robert's Leeches

My friend Robert Hicks, director of the Mütter Museum, has two pet leeches -- Hunter and Harvey. They didn't start out to be pets -- they were intended for a one-time use to do this film. But Robert tells me today that he's actually become attached to them, and they have distinct personalities. He fed them a second time recently.

He says it takes a long time for the anticoagulant to wear off. He oozed for a couple of days after the first time. This time, he says, he used a styptic pencil.

Working with these library/museum directors, I make some really interesting friends.