Bizarre Vintage Jobs That No Longer Exist (And for Good Reason!)

Leech Collector

Leeches were once medical staples for bloodletting therapies, and leech collectors spent long days wading through marshes and bogs to harvest them. The environment was wet, cold, and infested with biting insects, and handling leeches risked infections.

This niche profession persisted as long as bloodletting remained in vogue. Once medical science discarded leeches for most treatments, leech collectors vanished, leaving only tales of their slimy, swampy work behind.

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