Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ingr!garth!smryan
From: smryan@garth.UUCP (Steven Ryan)
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Not a possibly stupid question
Message-ID: <2188@garth.UUCP>
Date: 13 Dec 88 02:45:05 GMT
References: <11098@udenva.cair.du.edu> <6290001@hpindda.HP.COM>
Reply-To: smryan@garth.UUCP (Steven Ryan)
Organization: INTERGRAPH (APD) -- Palo Alto, CA
Lines: 16

>What exactly is an itch, and why does it go away when you scratch ?

Ideally, an itch is a signal there is an irritant on your skin. Scratching
removes the irritant.

Not so ideally, an itch is a false signal and no irritant is on your skin,
poison oak being a good example for me. Scratching destroys the skin and
can cause infections.
-- 
                                                   -- s m ryan
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          _
Then Guthrun crossed the wasted lands
and combed her hair with sooty hands.
Alone she watched the oceans churning,
and sang of heroes, fame most yearning.