50 A Case of Morhcs Pedicularis. 



on December 7, isil, he had daily combed out from the 

 armpils, bodv and thighs, from twelve to between twenty 

 and thirty livino insects ; and some he picked out of the 

 skin, as they had (irmly attached themselves thereto ; 

 seeming to have partly burrowed into the skin. He was 

 induced to use a small- toothed comb, from beinti remark- 

 ably hairy on the bodv, thiglis, and armpits. I prescribed 

 flores sulphuris internally^ for him to lake as much as his 

 bowels would bear without operating more than once or 

 twice daily ; and to use externally a lotion composed of a 

 strong solution of hydrargvrus mu'riatus. On the lOlh, 

 when I visited him, 1 had the satisfaction to find the re- 

 medies had produced a good effect, the itching having 

 abated, and the nund)er of insects daily conibcd out dinn- 

 nishcd to about half the former number. 



By persevering in the use of these remedies to the end of 

 the month, he was free from the disorder. 



On a minute examination of the insect, it appeared to 

 be nearest in resemblance to the pedicvlus ivguinalh; being 

 a smaller and more delicately formed insect than that which 

 infects the head. 



it is to be remarked, that this gentleman, who is very 

 cleanly in his person, putting on clean linen every day, 

 does not remember ever having lice in his head, nor on the 

 groins. 



In the course of a practice of 30 years, I have not met 

 with a similar case : and (ui looking into several authors 

 find it mentioned in such terms as to induce me to believe 

 it to be very uncommon, as few cases of the disease are re- 

 lated. 



"■ Uli/ssis Aldrovandi de ammalilus insectis liber qiiinlus. 

 Aristotel. duo tantum pediculorum genera nata lucre; 

 primum grandius hominibus valde fannliare a capite orti, 

 et toto corpore errans. Alterum ferum vocavit, durius eo, 

 quod magna ex parte provenit, et corpori detrahi difficilius: 

 hoc comniuni omnium prol atissimorum medicorinn judi- 

 cio, ilUid est quod plactulas nonnulli et plattas, Itali piat- 

 tolas et piattones a latitudine corporis dicunt. Galli mor- 

 piones, Arabes gardan," &c. 



The same author mentions one instance of the disorder 

 cndinor futallv : " Phcrecydem Syrum pediculari morbo in- 

 tcriisse;" and adds, " Oui morbuni patilur primum ve- 

 luti scabiei cu^usdam prurilu allectus, corpus scalpit, vo- 

 luptaie simul et dolore perceptis*: deinde exorientibus pe- 



» These symptoms were exactly similar to those of this case. 



diculis 



