The Itch Mite.--This parasite which afflicts man causes the condition spoken of as "Itch," "Seven Years Itch," "Army Itch," "Jackson Itch," etc. It has an oval body with spine-like projections. The female is larger than the male and measures 1-70 of an inch in length by 1-50 of an inch in width. The female causes the development and pain of the afflicted person. She burrows into the superficial skin, forming a tortuous or a straight dotted line, slightly elevated which varies from 1/8 to 1/2 inch in length.

I wonder if they had to invest in a Bugaboo stroller after scratching this itch fifty years ago?

This line if observed closely appears dark gray or blackish in color and is slightly more elevated at one end. The eggs are laid in this furrow and at the elevated end is usually found the female, which has perished, as a rule. It takes almost 13 to 20 days for the eggs to develop into adult mites. The young mites feed upon the tissues of the body and move about causing discomfort until they reach the surface of the skin where they mate and females start a fresh burrow and deposit more eggs. The Itch Mite is commonly found in the skin between the fingers, hands, folds of the wrist, arm pits, around the stomach and about the neck. It is not known as a carrier of disease, but can be dangerous to health by causing burrows in the skin and abrasions due to scratching which afford an opening for germs to enter the system of the bitten individual. The Itch Mite can be conveyed from one person to another by means of towels, clothing, bathing suits, etc., carelessly washed, handled, or worn by anyone afflicted with the pests. TREATMENT.—To destroy them, have all bed linen and clothing used by the individual infested, thoroughly boiled or baked. Treat the region of the body by taking a bath, washing first with warm water and castile soap, using a brush to thoroughly open up the burrows and expose the eggs for destruction. After this, apply an ointment,

Sublimed sulphur.......one drachm (teaspoonful)

Balsam of Peru.......one drachm (teaspoonful)

Vaseline ............one ounce (2 tablespoonfuls)

Rub in morning and evening for from two to four days and repeat at end of a week if any itching continues.

Additional Articles from the Book of Medicine:

• River-Water
  
  

  River-Water. — River-water is, to a certain extent, similar to Spring-water, but is much more apt to be contaminated with sand and clay, organic material from decomposing vegetable or animal remains, the refuse of manufacturers, and especially with the sewage of cities and towns, which it is probable events amounts of sickness and death are annually due in all civilized countries. Unfortunately, River-water is that which is chiefly supplied to towns and cities, and therefore find its way into the systems of vast numbers of our fellow-beings.

   

  In past sections, I have marveled at the excessive use of punctuation, but I’ve never seen the excessive use of “hyphens”. This particular section on water is absolutely rife with the excessive use of hyphens, and it is wreaking havoc on my attempt at editing. It’s almost like the author falls in love with a certain type of punctuation has a brief affair with it for a chapter or two before turning to a new punctuation.  This particular affair is driving me nuts, and I can’t wait for it to be over. If it doesn’t end soon I will probably single-handedly increase NC health insurance rates by myself.

• Diet Profiles with MyFitnessPal
  
  

  As I go through the book of medicine, I’ve been thinking more and more about my health. I am not terribly unhealthy nor am I very overweight, however my diet is definitely not terrific.

  I thought I would get some sort of baseline assessment of what my dietary goals should be as it relates to my weight. I weigh about 173 pounds and I’m 6 foot one. I’ve recently put on about 10 pounds and I’d like to get down to an ideal weight of about 160, a very tone 160.

  I’m not trying to be a bodybuilder, but I don’t desire any excess fat either. I do work in front of a computer for many hours at a time and that lends itself to putting on a little weight around my belly. I do go jogging about four times a week for a couple miles.

  I went over to MyFitnessPal.com so I could establish a dietary profile. It only took about 60 seconds to complete this profile and get a very baseline assessment of what I might need to do.

  

  I wouldn’t have to make too many adjustments, but I would need to decrease my calories just a bit. This site all so offers a calorie counter, which I would need as I’m not very good at documenting these types of things on paper nor even understanding what it is I’m documenting.

  My wife is a lifetime member of Weight Watchers, but that just doesn’t work for me.

  The next step of courses to keep a diet journal or a food diary depending on how you want to look at it. That would definitely not be a problem for me as I journal just about everything that I do.

  I haven’t been terribly concerned about calories since I was in the military. Back then we had to worry about ensuring that we consume enough calories each day when we were in the field.That was about consuming lots of calories as opposed to today where I’m looking to consume the right amount of calories for a more sedentary lifestyle, and if I can eat healthier along the way, then even better.

• Muscles of the Thigh and Leg
  
  

  Muscles of the Thigh and Leg.-turning to the next colored illustration, with a graphic of a full view of the deeper muscular arrangements play together with a striking his harvests applied to the lower extremity.  Delete these beautiful, silvery threads are the wires which carry the behest of the will to the muscular lovers, and whose commands the muscles probably obey; and give to the leg is wonderful and diversified endowments.  To stand erect is a very difficult and complex attack, in the process of forming is a no less difficult for complex function.  Few persons ever realize the peril involved in walking, and it has only become safe by constant practice.

  We are finally finishing up the last sections of the first book and I will be glad to get beyond the basic descriptions of images of the human body and move onto the last century view on weight loss pills (or roots) and other pragmatic cures for the common and uncommon ailments of humans.