IMPE.TIGINES. 629 



BOOK III. 



OF THE IMPETIGINES, OR DEPRAVED HABIT 

 WITH AFFECTIONS OF THE SKIN. 



MDCCXXXVII. I find it difficult to give any sufficient- 

 ly correct and proper character of this order The diseases 

 comprehended under it, depend, for the most part, upon a de- 

 praved state of the whole of the fluids, producing tumours, 

 eruptions, or other preternatural affections of the skin. Al- 

 though it be extremely difficult to find a general character of 

 the order that will apply to each of the genera and species, I 

 shall here treat of the principal genera which have been com- 

 monly comprehended under this order, and which I have enu- 

 merated in my Nosology. 



CHAP. I. OF SCROFULA, OR THE KING'S EVIL. 



MDCCXXXVIII. The character of this disease I have 

 attempted in my Nosology ; but it will be more properly taken 

 from the whole of its history, now to be delivered. 



MDCCXXXIX. It is commonly, and very generally, a 

 hereditary disease ; and although it sometimes may, yet it rarely 

 appears, but in children whose parents had at some period of their 

 lives been affected with it. Whether it may not fail to appear in 

 the children of scrofulous parents, and discover itself afterwards 

 in their offspring in the succeeding generations, I cannot certain- 

 ly determine ; but believe that this has frequently happened. 

 It appears to me to be derived more commonly from fathers than 

 from mothers ; but whether this happens from their being more 



