a term used among physicians to denote a total falling off of the hair from certain parts, occasioned either by the defect of nutritious juice, or by its vicious quality corroding the roots of it, and leaving the skin rough and colourless.

The word is formed from ἀλόπηξ, vulpes, "a fox;" whose urine, it is said, will occasion baldness; or because it is a disease which is common to that creature. It is directed to wash the head every night at going to bed with a ley prepared by boiling the ashes of vine branches in red wine. A powder made by reducing hemodactyls to fine flour, is also recommended for the same purpose.

In cases where the baldness is total, a quantity of the finest burdock roots are to be bruised in a marble mortar, and then boiled in white wine until there remains only as much as will cover them. This liquor, carefully strained off, is said to cure baldness, by washing the head every night with some of it warm. A ley made by boiling ashes of vine branches in common water, is also recommended with this intention. A fresh cut onion, rubbed on the part until it be red and itch, is likewise said to cure baldness.

A multitude of such remedies are everywhere to be found in the works of Valerius de Taranta, Rondeletius, Hollerius, Trincavellius, Celsus, Senecary, and other practical physicians. See also Buxus.