A manual of the diseases of the skin / by Balmanno Squire.

  • Squire, Balmanno (Alexander John Balmanno), -1908.
Date:
1868
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A manual of the diseases of the skin / by Balmanno Squire. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    eggs on the clothes. Now the pediculus pubis lives on the skin, and deposits its eggs on the hair. The flat crab-like insect lies closely attached to the skin, and if any attempts be made to detach him, he immediately digs his claws into the epidermis, and anchors himself so firmly to the skin that it requires the exercise of some force to pull him off. The pedi- culus capitis crawls about the hairs, nestliug between them; accordingly we find its ova deposited as often near the free ends of the hairs as near their roots. But the ova of the pediculus pubis, which keeps close to the skin, are always deposited on the hairs very near to their roots (vide Fig. 6). The eruption provoked by the pediculus pubis is a pruriginous one. It is often so severe as to simulate prurigo senilis. But the fact of the situations occupied by the eruption corresponding to the habitat of the pediculus pubis, the discovery of that insect on the skin and the presence of nits on the hair, will always suffice to distinguish pubic from senile prurigo. Louse-disease, in either of its three forms, may last indefinitely, if unchecked by appropriate means. But if recognized, and submitted to appropriate treatment, it may always be speedily remedied. Treatment op Phthiriasis.—Various remedies are used, all having for their object the extermination of the pediculus. Amongst them may be mentioned the powder of Staphisagria-seeds, the powder of the flowers of the Pyrethruru album, or of the Pyrethruni roseum, olive- or almond-oil, sulphur in shape of furni-