Samuel Hafenreffer (26 April 1587 – 26 September 1660) was a German physician, who in 1660 introduced the definition of

pruritus An itch (also known as pruritus) is a sensation that causes a strong desire or reflex to scratch. Itches have resisted many attempts to be classified as any one type of sensory experience. Itches have many similarities to pain, and while both ...

. Pruritus is the "unpleasant sensation" the body produces that provokes a person to scratch themselves. Hafenreffer is also credited as being the author of the first textbook in German speaking countries on the subject of

dermatology Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the Human skin, skin.''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.'' Random House, Inc. 2001. Page 537. . It is a speciality with both medical and surgical aspects. A List of dermatologists, ...

References

1587 births 1660 deaths 16th-century German physicians 17th-century German physicians 17th-century German writers 17th-century German male writers {{Germany-med-bio-stub