Ill 
Of the Itch. 
in moll of the watery puflules. They begin to enter in 
the furrows of the cuticula by gnawing and working in 
their heads till they are quite got under, where they caufe 
a grievous itching, and force the infedted perfon to 
fcratch, which only heightens the malady: from his fre¬ 
quent obfervations he alfo faw one of them drop an egg, 
almoft tranfparent, from the hinder part of its body, and 
afterwards faw feveral others of the fame fort, one of 
which is reprefented at C, fig. 173. 
Hence follows the reafon why this diflemper is fo very 
catching, fince by fimple contact thefe animals can 
readily pafs from one perfon to another, not only from 
their fwift motion, but by their clinging to every thing 
they touch; and crawling as well upon the furface of 
tlie body, as under the outward fkin. A few being once 
lodged, they multiply apace by their eggs ; nor is it any 
wonder if this infe&ion is alfo propagated by the fheets, 
towels, handkerchiefs, or gloves, ufed by itchy people; 
fince thefe animalcules may eafily be harboured in fuck 
things, and will live out of the body two or three 
days. 
This difcovery alfo accounts why this diflemper is 
never cured by internal medicines, but requires lixivial 
wafhes, baths, or ointments, made up of falts, vitriols, 
mercury, fulphur, precipitate or fublimate, or fuch kinds 
of corrofive and penetrating remedies as can powerfully 
kill thefe vermin in their fkin. It is necefiarv to con- 
J 
tinue the anointing for fome days after the cure feems 
pcrfedled ; for though the ointment may have deftroyed 
all the living animalcules, it may not probably have 
killed their young in the eggs, which are laid In nefls 
in the fkin, which if fuffered to be hatched may renew 1 
the diflemper. 
Of 
