10. Leech Jars
Leech jars were common sights in apothecaries and doctors’ offices, storing live leeches for medical bloodletting. Leeches were believed to balance bodily fluids and cure illnesses—a practice that seems bizarre by modern standards. These glass jars, often ornate, kept the leeches healthy and ready for use. Though science has long since moved past routine bloodletting, leech jars are fascinating relics, revealing the sometimes strange lengths our ancestors went to in the name of health.
