188 PHTHIHUS INGUINALIS. 



Acarus Lactis. Linncus supposes many contagions arc caused by 

 mites, particularly dysentery and the itch. That the latter is occa- 

 sioned by a species of mite is not a doctrine peouliar to the mo- 

 derns. " Mouffet mentions Abinzoar, called also Avenzoar, a cele- 

 brated Hispano- Arabian physician of Seville, who flourished in the 

 twelfth century, as the most ancient author that notices it. He 

 calls these mites little lice that creep under the skin of the hands, 

 legs, and feet, exciting pustules full of fluid.* Joubert, quoted by 

 the same author, describes them under the name of Sirones, as 

 always being concealed beneath the epidermis, under which they 

 creep like moles, gnawing it, and causing a most troblesome itch- 

 ing. It appears that Mouffet, or whoever was the author of that 

 part of the Theatrum Insectorum, was himself also well acquainted 

 with these animals, since he remarks that their habitation is not in 

 the pustule but near it ; a remark afterwards confirmed by Linne, 

 and more recently by Dr. Adams. f In common with the former 

 of these authors, Mouffet further notices the effect of warmth upon 

 them in exciting motion. Our intelligent countryman also 

 observes that they cannot be Pediculi, since they live under the 

 cuticle, which lice never do. 



" In more -modern times, microscopical figures have been added 

 to descriptions of the insect. Bonomo first furnished this valuable 

 species of elucidation. His figures, however, which are copied by 

 Baker in his work on the microscope, are far from accurate. X Those 

 of De Geer and Dr. Adams are much more satisfactory, and mutu- 

 ally confirm each other. § From them it is evident that the same 

 insect inhabits the scabies of Sweden and Madeira. Dr. Bateman, 

 in the letter before alluded to, informs his correspondent, that he 

 had seen that from Madeira, and gives it as his opinion that there 

 cannot be a doubt of the existence of an Acarus Scabiei ; an 

 opinion which he repeats in his late work on Cutaneous Diseases ; 

 and which, according to Hermann, [| has been also rendered un- 



* Mouffet, 266. f Observations, &c. 296. 



\Ossertazioni in torn o a pellicelli del corpo umanofuttc da I Dot tor GioCosimo 

 Bonomo, &c. f. 1-3. Baker, On Microsc. i. t. 13, f. 2. 



k De Geer, vii. t. 5, f. 12, 14. |] .1/era. Apterologique, 79. 



