254

OF THE ITCH.

and a degree of hectic fever; and the hemlock in old inveterate ceses,approaching to the schirrous or cancerous state. Either the extract orthe fresh juice of this plant may be used. The dose may be small atfirst, and increased gradually as far as the stomach is able to bear it.

External applications are of little use. Before the tumour breaks,nothing ought to be applied to it, unless a piece of flannel, or somethingto keep it warm. After it breaks, the sore may be dressed with somedigestive ointment. What I have always found to answer best, was theointment of yellow wax (yellow basilicon) mixed with about a sixth oreighth part of its weight of red nitrated quicksilver (red precipitate ofmercury). The sore may be dressed with this twice a-day; and if it bevery fungous, and does not digest well, a larger proportion of the pre-cipitate may be added; or sprinkle the sores with the powder of burntalum.

Medicines which mitigate this disease, though they do not cure it, arenot to be despised. If the patient can be kept alive by any means tillhe arrive at the age of puberty, he has a great chance to get well; but ifhe does not recover at this time, in alll probability he never will.

There is no malady which parents are so apt to communicate to theiroffspring as the scrophula, for which reason people ought to be aware ofmarrying into families affected with this disease.

For the means of preventing the scrophula we must refer the readerto the observations on Nursing at tlie beginning of the book.

Sea air appears to have a specific virtue in this disease. To scrophu-lous swellings and glandular tumours, the marine plant commonly calledSEA-TANG is applied, bruised and formed into a cataplasm: when thatvegetable cannot be obtained in a recent state, a common poultice of sea-water has been substituted. Lime-water may be employed both exter-nally and internally in cases of scrophula, for which it is not a con-temptible remedy. The decoction or a strong infusion of colt's-footleaves, or the compound decoction of sarsaparilla, may be taken with ascruple or half a drachm of burnt sponge, or a large tea-spoonful or tweof the following electuary :

Take prepared natron three drachms, powder of cinchona one ounceand a half, thin mucilage of gum-arabic enough to form an electuary.

V

OF THE ITCH.

Though this disease is commonly communicated by infection, yet itseldom prevails where due regard is paid to cleanliness, fiesh air, andwholesome diet. It generally appears in form of small watery pustules,first about the rists, or between the fingers; afterwards it affects thearms, legs, thighs, &c. These pustules are attended with an intolerableitching, especially when the patient is warm in bed, or sits by the fire.Sometimes indeed the skin is covered with large blotches or scabs, andat other times with a white scurf, or scaly eruption. This last is calledthe dry itch, and is the most difficult to cure.

The itch is seldom a dangerous disease, unless when it is rendered soby neglect or improper treatment. If it be suffered to continue too long,