This specimen dates to circa 1900 and is most likely German in origin. The company, PETER VAN SCHAAK & SONS, of Chicago, Illinois, was the American supplier of this type leech jar in the 1890 - 1916 period.

A production number "8" is noted on the inside rim. The jar sports three knobs, or string ties, to secure the lid. Made of white porcelain, this quart-size beauty stands 7.5 inches high x 5.5 inches wide (inclusive of the knobs) and measures just over 4" in diameter.

The condition is excellent with minor wear to the black lettering commensurate with its age.

Medicinal bloodletting is one of the most ancient of medical practices dating back thousands of years, with historical evidence noting its use in ancient Egypt, Rome and Greece. Bloodletting was based on an ancient system of medicine in which blood and other bodily fluids were considered to be "humors", and the proper balance of these "humors" were what maintained health. The concept that bloodletting could restore the "humors" to their proper balance was widely accepted, and the application of leeches to the body was one method of bloodletting that was practiced. By the 19th century, the use of leeches in this practice had reached its zenith, and vessels such as the one offered here were used to store the leeches when not in use.