_Of Diseases of the Skin_
Under this head I shall consider all kinds of breaking out, exclusive of
that, which attends inflammatory and acute fevers, as they are all of
one nature, and will all yield to one method of cure.—All proceed from a
corrupted humour, which nature endeavours to expell from the body, by
driving them to the surface, as that is the least resisting part.
_Of the Itch._
The itch may either proceed from original acrimony, or it may be catched
from a mess-mate who is infested with the disease. In itself it is of
different kinds, but the diversity in this respect depends principally
on the habit of body afflicted with it. Sometimes it is dry, scaly, and
attended with very great itching; in that case, it proceeds generally
from a scorbutic habit, and is attended with a slow inward fever.
Sometimes it is more moist, and utters itself with bladders all about
the hands, particularly betwixt the fingers, and is a sufficient
testimony of the disorder. The principal indication is to purify the
blood; and in the mean time recourse may be had to external means. A
purge is first requisite.