#leech barometer

[space-stalagmite]

Tag yourself are you an absolutly stupid or positively prophetic westher leach

[alloraartanddesign]

the tempest prognosticator or leech barometer. displayed at the great exhibition by dr george merryweather it was an instrument designed to predict storms. inside each of the 12 glass jars at its base was an inch of water and a medicinal leech. leeches are sensitive to changes in weather and when a storm approached they instinctively crawled upwards and activated a trigger inside their jar. this released a gold chain which then rang the bell at the top of the instrument and alerted an attendant to the danger. the closer the storm was the more agitated the leeches became and the more the bell would ring. though ingenious the device did not catch on.