JJ24 0*^ ^^^ Plica Polonica, 



lour. The herb is then taken out, and about half a pound of 

 pounded cochineal is put into the kettle, and the liquor is 

 left to boil a full hour, care being taken to ftir it that it may 

 Hot run over. About 15 or 20 drams of a fubftance which 

 the dyers call luter (orchilla) is added, and when the liquor 

 has been boiled for fome time longer the kettle is removed 

 from the fire. The fkins taken from the pickle are then 

 placed over each other in troughs, and the dye-liquor is 

 poured over them four different times, and rubbed into them 

 with the hands, that the colour may be equally imbibed and 

 diffufed. The liquor each time is exprefled ; after which they 

 are fit for being dried. Skins prepared in this manner arc 

 fold at a much dearer rate than any of the other kinds. 



VIII. On that Difeafe peculiar to Poland and fome of the 

 neighbouring Countries^ called the Plica Polonica. 



A HE celebrated Profeflbr Brera, who refided in Poland 

 during the fummer of the year 1795, and who had a e;ood 

 opportunity of making obfervations on this fineuiar difeafe 

 in the country to which it is peculiar, has pubiilhed the fol- 

 lowing account of it : — " Under the term plica polonica is 

 underftood a difeafe by which the hair on the head and other 

 parts of the body fvvells, becomes matted together, and forms 

 hard knots, and, on being touched, occi.lions the moft acute 

 pain. The patient at the fame time is feized with a kind of 

 riervous fever, and the funftions of the brain are deranged. 

 This difeafe prevails throughout all Poland ; but it fecms to 

 be more peculiar to Lithuania, where the inhabitants, of every 

 3ge and condition, are, fooner or later, attacked by it. Some- 

 times it is found among the wild animals, but oftener among 

 the domeftic, and moft frequently among horfes. In Lower 

 Hunorary, the Bannat, Croatia, and Sclavonia, there is at 

 prefent a fimilar difeafe, from which foreigners who refide 

 lonff in thofe coimtries fuffer more than the natives. 



o 



" The fymptoms of this dreadful malady in general are, 

 fleep difturbed by terrible dreams, a hidden depreflion of 

 tJie fpirits, and a loathing of every kind of food, A few- 

 days 



