a cutaneous disease, appearing in small water. watery pustules on the skin; commonly of a mild nature, though sometimes attended with obstinate and dangerous symptoms. See Medicine-Index.

**ITCH INFECTION.** See ACARUS.

In speaking of the manner of finding these insects in the itch, Fabricius observes, that the failure of many who have sought for them has been owing to their having expected to meet with them in the larger vesicles that contain a yellowish fluid like pus; in these, however, he tells us, he has never found them, but in those pustules only which are recent, and contain only a watery fluid. We must therefore, he observes, not expect to find them in the same proportionate number in patients who for many months have been afflicted with the disease, as in those in whom its appearance is recent, and where it is confined to the fingers or wrists. The cause of this difference with respect to the pustules, he conjectures, may be owing to the death of the insect after it has deposited its eggs.

A small transparent vesicle being found, a very minute white point, distinct from the surrounding fluid, may be discovered, and very often even without the assistance of a glass; this is the insect, which may be easily taken out on the point of a needle or penknife, and when placed on a green cloth may be seen much more distinctly, and observed to move.

The author remarks, that even before such a transparent vesicle is formed, we may often discover traces of the insect on the fingers or hands, in a reddish streak or furrow, which is occasioned by the acarus; and he adds, that it is even more usual to find it in these furrows than in the pustules themselves. He tells us, that a friend of his at Hanover (who had the itch in a slight degree, and to whose accurate inquiries with an excellent microscope he acknowledges himself much indebted) found several insects in such furrows. Two of the longest of the furrows were about an inch in extent. They seemed to be thoroughly dry, but exhibited here and there very minute shining and transparent spots. These spots, however, were not at all elevated above the surface of the skin; and although several of them were opened and examined, no insect was found in them. These furrows he has observed only on the hands and fingers, having vainly sought for them on the legs and other parts of the body, in his children, who had the itch in a high degree.

**ITEA,** in botany: A genus of the monocotyledon order, belonging to the pentandra class of plants; and in the natural method ranking with those of which the order is doubtful. The petals are long, and inserted into the calyx; the capsule unilocular and bivalved. There is but one species, a native of North America. It grows by the sides of rivers, and in other parts where the ground is moist. It rises to the height of eight or ten feet, sending out many branches garnished with spear-shaped leaves placed alternately, and slightly sawed on their edges, of a light green colour. At the extremity of the branches are produced fine spikes of white flowers three or four inches long, standing erect. When these shrubs are in vigour, they will be entirely covered with flowers, so that they make a beautiful appearance during the flowering season, which is in July. They are propagated by layers, and are not injured by the cold of this climate; but are apt to die in summer, if they are planted on a dry gravelly soil. The shoots should be laid down in autumn, and will be rooted in one year.