LICE. 337 



CASE many other occurrences, has been viewed by the superstitious, 

 and is still, as the prognostication of some impending evil, as 

 sickness or misfortune to the individuals so visited. Without 

 endeavouring to clear up the mystery, I can only bear testimony 

 to the fact of their sudden occurrence, having known an instance 

 when this species appeared in such quantities, that it was neces- 

 sary to cleanse the bed linen twice a day for several days, at each 

 of which visitations there appeared no visible decrease in their 

 numbers, though at last they as suddenly disappeared. A late 

 medical friend of mine says he held the opinion that the Pediculi 

 migrate, and stated to me the following fact in confirmation of his 

 belief: 



*' His father, who was also a medical practitioner in the West 

 Riding of Yorkshire for fifty years, had frequently in the course of 

 his practice to enter the cottages of the poor in his neighbour- 

 hood (/>., colliers and cloth weavers). On one occasion, having 

 a case which required his attendance near the bed for about half 

 an-hour, he found himself on his return home literally swarming, 

 with these gentry, both his coat and waistcoat, and beneath the 

 collar of the former : to use his own words, ' you might have 

 actually scooped them out with a teaspoon.' Now whether this 

 was owing to his coming in contact with a legion on its march, or 

 whether it might not be that a fresh subject has superior attrac- 

 tions for these puny persecutors, is a question for the decision of 

 competent judges : of one thing, however, we are certain, that 

 this locality was well stocked with this peculiar species of game." 

 (Denny's Anoplura, p. 17). The latter suggestion is, no doubt, 

 the true explanation of the case of the Yorkshire doctor and 

 similar stories that we have heard. We do not think there is any 

 warrant for the idea of migrations, and as for those cases that 

 seem persistently to defy cleanliness and remedies, we believe that 

 all they want is sifting. If properly sifted, there will always b& 

 fomid some dirty nurse or unclean garments that unwittingly 

 supply fuel to the flame we wish to extinguish. Such a case fell 



