APTEEA. 35 



in carrying away, and throwing into the sea, whole basketfuls of 

 the vermin which were continually escaping from the person of 

 their noble master. 



Little is known at the present day of the details of this 

 complaint ; though it is observed frequently enough in some parts 

 of the south of Europe, where the dirty and miserable inhabitants 

 are a prey to poverty and uncleanliness, two misfortunes which 

 often go together. In Gallicia, in Poland, in the Asturias, and 

 in Spain, we may find many victims of phthiriasis. 



Lice increase with such rapidity on persons thus attacked, that 

 it is common to attribute their appearance to spontaneous genera- 

 tion alone. But the prodigious suddenness of reproduction in 

 these insects sufficiently explains their increase. 



i) 2 



