Gross ER. (Reading Comprehension/Language Arts).

Name: --

Gross ER

PART A: Medical Chart

Directions: Read "Gross Medicine" on pages 8 to 11.
Then compare maggots and leeches by filing out the
chart below.

                         Maggots   Leeches

What kind of animals
are they?

How were they used
as folk remedies?

For what type of
treatment or injury
would doctors most
likely use them today?

How do they work?

Part B: Act Gross!

You're playing a doctor on a TV medical show. Write a
scene where you have to explain to a patient why you're
prescribing either leeches or maggots. You must address
the patient's condition in this scene. Also, include
scientific information from the story to support your
explanation. Cast fellow students to help you perform
the scene for your class.

GROSS ER

                              Maggots                   Leeches

What kinds of         insect larvae             worms
animals are they?

How were they used    Maggots were used to      Leeches were used for
as folk remedies?     clean open wounds.        phlebotomy, or draining
                                                blood.

For what type of      Doctors may use maggots   Leeches are sometimes
treatment or injury   to treat patients with    used after
would doctors most    infections from           reconstructive
likely use them       injuries like pressure    surgery--when surgeons
today?                ulcers, leg and foot      reattach body parts.
                      ulcers, stab wounds,
                      and post-surgical
                      wounds that won't heal.

How do they work?     Maggots eat dead flesh,   Leeches bite into flesh
                      clean out dead skin, and  and suck up blood.
                      kill harmful bacteria.    Their saliva contains a
                      Blood can then flow       natural anesthetic and
                      throughout the tissue,    chemicals that keep
                      promoting the growth of   blood from clotting,
                      new flesh.                prevent bacteria from
                                                infecting the wound,
                                                and cause blood vessels
                                                to open. As a result,
                                                they promote blood
                                                circulation.