HISTNEUR-L: The History of Neuroscience Internet Forum

re: scurf

• Date:   Wed, 12 Feb 2003 14:00:05 -0800 (Pacific Standard Time)
• To:   histneur-l@library.ucla.edu
• From:   Russell A. Johnson <rjohnson@library.ucla.edu>
• Subject:   re: scurf
• Message-ID:   SIMEON.10302121405.M@bio-s-his008.library.ucla.edu

Stan:

The OED gives a general description under "scurf".

I don't see it listed in contemporary (to Franklin) dictionaries such 
as Motherby's and James's.  In our wall of dictionaries (a very nice 
thing to have), the first appearance is in _Hooper's Medical 
Dictionary_ (1824):

	"SCURF. _Furfura_.  Small exfoliations of the cuticle, which 
	take place after some eruptions on the skin, a new cuticle 
	being formed underneath during the exfolitation."

Going back then to _Motherby's Medical Dictionary_ (1775):

	"FURFUROSI.  Those patients are so called who are afflicted 
	with a sort of scurf or scaliness on the head, which upon 
	combing discharges a scaly substance like bran, whence the 
	disease is called furfures, an furfuratio; though some call it 
	porrigo and farrea nubes."

I hope this gets you in deeper with the dermatologists.

I will send you a separate message with the address for Willard 
Marmelzat, who no doubt will enjoy corresponding with you about this.

cheers,

Russell