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.