Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/149

129&#93; LOU ftient, 2. The Clothes-louse Is larger than the next species, and has a thicker head ; it visits the skin only for imbibing the neces- sary portion of its nourishment, when it retreats to the folds and seams of clothes : these vermin may be speedily destroyed by fumigat- ing the articles of dress with sul- phureous vapours. 3. The Head- louse frequents only that part of the body, and is so prolific, that each femalCjin the course of twelve days, deposits several hundred eggs, or ?uis, which are closely cement- ed to the hair, and hatched in six or seven days, by warmth and per- spiration : after three weeks, the young brood is fit for propagating their species ; and as there are, perhaps, a hundred females to one male insert, their rapid increase maybe easily conceived. — Want of cleanliness J immoderate warmth ; violent perspiration ; and a cor- rupted state of the human fluids, remarkably promote their genera- tion. — Among the most simple and harmless remedies for extirpating these vermin, is the seed of parsley reduced to a fine powder. — Eut, if the humours of the whole animal body are in so vitiated a state, that the blood is contaminated by sen- sual excess of every kind, there arises the morbus pedicularis, or the most dreadful of all diseases, in which those disgusting insefts are bred in ulcers, and cover the whole frame, so that the ill-fated vittim cannot be relieved. Some constitutions, however, are more exposed to these odious vermin than others ; and it is re- markable, that sea-faring men, per- forming voyages to the East Indies, though infested with them on leaving Europe, lose them in a cer- tain degree of latitude during their wo. X. — yoj.. Ill, Lou [129 voyage ; but, on their return, are again liable to their incursions. Beside the remedies already .sug- gested, wc shall only observe, that in cases where danger is appre- hended from lice, it will be useful to take nourishing, succulent food, and to use wholesome drink. — Aa a cure for the pedicular disease, MERCURrALis advises frequent purgatives j at the same time, ta anoint the parts aifefted with garlic and mustard ; to make use of salt- ed and acid food ; to bathe, and to foment the body with a decoiStiori of gall-nuts ; — but the most effec- tual remedies are, sulphur and to- bacco, mercvirial ointment, black pepper and vinegar. Louse-berry. See Sfikdle- TEEE. LOUSE-WORT, or Pedicularis^ L. a genus of native pereiuiial plants, comprising two species, viz» 1. The paluslris, or Marskt Louse-wort, which grows in marshes, ditches, on moist mea- dows, and in pastures ; where it flowers in the months of June and July. — This vegetable is eaten by goats, though not relished by hogs ; and refused by horses, .sheep, and cows; in the latter of which, if accidentally swallowedamong other grasses, it occasions bloody urine. Hence this dangerous and trouble- some weed ought to be diligent]/ eradicated. 2. The syivatica, CoMMoif or PastureLouse-wort, thrives on M'et pastures, and heaths ; it flow- ers in June and July. — This plant, is refused both by cows and swine ; it is particularly noxious to sheep j which, if ted with it, will, in a short time, be covered with scabs and scurf; their wool will become loose, and be over-run with ver- nain : — the expressed juice, or a K d8co6tioi?^