is owing to Animalcules or Insects; as it is
alledged, that no Remedies will cure the Distemper, but such as are
capable of killing them.

The Medicines, which are most commonly used for the Cure, are
_Mercury_, _White Helebore_, and _Sulphur_.

Mercurial Frictions on the Part are often made use of, and sometimes
with Success, though they are by no Means to be depended upon for a
Cure; besides that, they are liable to throw the Patients into a
Salivation, as I have seen happen more than once; for which Reasons I
would never recommend this Method where the Patient labours under no
other Disorder which requires the Use of Mercury, and would confine it
entirely to Cases where Patients, having the Itch, labour, at the same
Time, under the _Lues venerea_, and require the free Use of mercurial
Frictions; under such Circumstances the mercurial Ointment may be as
well rubbed on the Parts affected with the Itch as upon any other.

The Powder of the Root of _White Helebore_, made up into an Ointment
with Hogs Lard, or a strong Decoction of it in Water, rubbed on the
Parts, will often cure the Itch; but it is a sharp Medicine, and
generally smarts, and sometimes inflames the Parts on which it is
rubbed; and therefore it is not so commonly used, as we know a much
surer and milder Remedy. Though I have cured some People with the
Helebore Lotion without any Inconvenience, who would not use the
Sulphur on Account of its Smell.

_Sulphur_ is the most certain and easy Cure for the Itch of any we
know, and perhaps is more certain in the Cure of this Disorder than
almost any other Medicine in any other Disorder whatever. We used it
in Form of the Sulphur Ointment of the _London Dispensatory_, of which
one, two, or more Drachms were rubbed in every Night, in Proportion to
the Extent of the Parts affected. These Unctions were continued from
four or five to ten or twelve Nights, according to the Violence and
Continuance of the Disorder. Most were cured in a few Days; others
required a longer Time. As the sulphureous Unctions tend to obstruct
the Perspiration, we generally ordered a Purge to be given before
rubbing the Sulphur Ointment, and in full Habits sometimes ordered a
little Blood to be taken away; and put them all under a low Diet.
After the Disorder seemed to be removed, they took another Dose or two
of Physic to carry off any Impurities that might have been thrown upon
the Bowels, during the Use of the Sulphur Ointment. In inve