The following died of a similar disease [phthiriăsis]: L. Sylla; Pherecȳdēs the Syrian (the preceptor of Pythagŏras); the Greek poet Alomæon, and Philip II. of Spain.
Phthiriʹasis is an affection of the skin in which parasites are engendered so numerously as to cover the whole surface of the body. The vermin lay their eggs in the skin and multiply most rapidly.