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Title: The Present Method of Inoculating for the Small-Pox - To which are added, some experiments, instituted with a - view to discover the effects of a similar treatment in the - natural small-pox
Author: Dimsdale, Thomas
Language: English
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inculation —> inoculation
throngh —> through
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THE
PRESENT METHOD
OF
INOCULATING
FOR THE
SMALL-POX.
To which are added,
Some Experiments, instituted with a View
to discover the Effects of a similar Treatment
in the NATURAL SMALL-POX.
By THOMAS DIMSDALE, M. D.
The SEVENTH EDITION, Corrected.
LONDON:
Printed by JAMES PHILLIPS, George-Yard,
Lombard-Street;
And Sold by W. OWEN, in Fleet-Street; and
CARNAN and NEWBERY, in-St. Paul’s Church
Yard.
MDCCLXXIX.
TO THE
Royal College of Physicians
IN
LONDON,
This Treatise is inscribed,
With all due Deference
and Respect,
BY
THE AUTHOR.
INTRODUCTION.
Of the Age, Constitution, and Season of the Year proper for Inoculation.
Of the Preparation.
Of Infection.
Of the Progress of Infection.
OF ANOMALOUS SYMPTOMS AND APPEARANCES.
Consequences of this Method of Inoculation.
The Effects of this Treatment applied to the natural Small-Pox.
CONCLUSION.
CASES.
CASES of the natural Small-pox, treated in the preceding Method.
POSTSCRIPT.
CASE.
INTRODUCTION.
From the time that I entered into the practice of medicine, and saw the
danger to which the generality of those who had the small-pox in the
natural way were exposed, I could not but sincerely wish, with every
sensible person of the faculty, that Inoculation might become general.
A considerable share of employment in this branch of my profession
has for upwards of twenty years occurred to me; and altho’ I have
been so fortunate as not to lose a patient under inoculation, except
one child, about fourteen years ago, who after the eruption of a few
distinct pustules died of a fever, which I esteemed wholly independent
of the small-pox, yet I must acknowledge that in some cases the
symptoms have cost me not a little anxiety for the event.
Nor have the subsequent effects of this practice always been so
favourable as one could wish; and tho’ far from equalling those which
too often follow the natural small-pox; either in respect to difficulty
or number, yet they sometimes gave no small uneasiness to the operator.
It cannot likewise, it ought not to be concealed, that some of the
inoculated have died under this process, even under the care of very
able and experienced practitioners. But this number is so small, that,
when compared with the mortality attending the natural small-pox, it is
reduced almost to a cypher.
These circumstances, however, tended to discourage the operation in
some degree. Practitioners were cautious of urging a process, of whose
event they could not be certain: and parents, who were sensible enough
to observe, that though the chance was greatly in their favour, yet a
blank might cast up against them, engaged in it with hesitation.
Humanity, as well as a wish to promote the honour and advantage of the
art I profess, made me ever attentive to the improvement of this part
of my employment. Dissatisfied with the common methods, I had carefully
attended to the circumstances that seemed to contribute to the good or
ill success of this practice, in the course of my own business, as well
as to the best information I could get of the success of others.
Many facts had induced me to think that regimen, preparation, and
management would do much: that as the disease was of an inflammatory
kind, a cooling regimen must certainly for the most part be reasonable.
Some faint essays were made to try how far this sentiment might be
just. But those who are the best acquainted with the first aphorism of
Hippocrates, will be the first in justifying a cautious procedure,
where the object is no less than the life of an individual.
In this situation I first heard, and with the utmost satisfaction,
that in some parts of the nation, a new and more successful method
of inoculating was discovered, than had hitherto been practised. The
relators gave incredible accounts of the success; which was the more
marvellous, as the operators were chiefly such, as, by report, could
lay but little claim to medical erudition.
Knowing that improvements, which would do honour to the most elevated
human understandings, are sometimes stumbled upon by men of more
confined abilities; and that in medicine, as well as in every other
circumstance in life, it is our duty to avail ourselves as much as
possible of all discoveries tending to the common benefit, I embraced
every _just opportunity_ of informing myself of facts, circumstances,
and events, that either public fame, or more precise relations,
brought to me. I use the term _just opportunity_, because, if I am not
misinformed, endeavours have been used, inconsistent with equity and
candour, to rob those who are intitled to our gratitude for assisting
us in this important process, of that share of private emolument which
is their due, let their title to the discovery be ever so paradoxical.
To expose patients, even in the inoculated small-pox, to all weathers,
was a thing unheard of. To permit them through the whole progress
of the disease to go abroad, and follow their usual vocations, and
that they should neither suffer any present evil, nor experience any
disagreeable consequences, was still more surprizing; yet an infinite
number of instances have confirmed all this; and some of these
instances will appear in the sequel of this performance.
The design of this treatise is to bring the practice still one step
nearer to perfection, and lessen the ravages of a distemper, which is
not a native of Britain, but, like the plague, has been imported from
a foreign country, and demands the exertion of all the powers we are
possessed of, either to exterminate it from amongst us, which perhaps
is not practicable, or to render it less unsafe, if not wholly without
difficulty or danger.
The following directions for this purpose, are the result of an
extensive practice: and if a strong persuasion of the truth of what he
writes, founded on repeated trials and impartial observations, should
have led the author to express himself in a very sanguine manner, the
future experience of others, he trusts, will be his justification.
Hertford, 1. Nov.
1766.
Of the AGE, CONSTITUTION, and SEASON of the Year proper for INOCULATION.
Before I proceed to describe the regimen and preparatives, it may
not be improper to mention what has occurred to me in respect to the
most suitable age and constitution for inoculation; and likewise what
seasons seem to be more or less favourable for the practice.
In regard to age; where it is left to my choice, I decline inoculating
children under two years old. I know the common practice is against
me in this particular; but my reasons for rejecting such are founded
on observation and experience. I have, indeed, lately inoculated many
under this age, at the pressing entreaties of their parents, and they
have all done well. But it must be considered, that young children are
exposed to all the hazards of dentition, fevers, fluxes, convulsions,
and other accidents, sufficiently difficult in themselves to manage in
such tender subjects; insomuch that scarce two in three of all that are
born, live to be two years old, as is demonstrable from the Bills of
Mortality.
Besides, convulsive paroxysms often accompany the variolous eruptive
fever in children; and though generally looked upon in no unfavourable
light, as often preceding a distinct kind of small-pox, yet they are
at all times attended with some degree of danger; nay, some, it is
well known, have expired under them; while others, who have struggled
through with great difficulty, have been so debilitated, and their
faculties so impaired, that the effects have been perceptible during
the remaining part of their lives.
And even admitting the eruption to be favourable, and not attended
with any such alarm, yet should a larger number of pustules than
usual appear, or any untoward symptom happen, and require medical
help, the unhappy sufferer is much too young to be prevailed on to
take unpalatable medicines, or submit to other necessary measures,
by persuasions, menaces, or bribes. I have often been present at
afflicting scenes of this nature; and have reason to think that many
children have died of the small-pox in the natural way, merely from the
impossibility of prevailing upon them to comply with what was proper,
in cases where little or no danger was discoverable, either from the
number or species of the pustules, the degree of fever, or any other
apparent cause.
It must likewise be taken into consideration, that young children have
usually a larger share of pustules from inoculation, than those who are
advanced a little farther in life; and that under this circumstance
many have died; and the proportion of these, so far as I can learn,
is too great to encourage a continuance in the inoculation of young
children: so that it seems most prudent to wait till this dangerous
period be over, especially as its duration is so short, that the
danger of their receiving the small-pox therein in the natural way is
very little; and it is at this time much more easy to preserve them
from it, than when they are left more to themselves, and may be more in
the way of infection. But children above this period may be inoculated
more freely; nor does there appear any reason to exclude healthy adults
of any age; persons of seventy having passed through this process with
the utmost ease, and without occasioning the least painful apprehension
for the event.
In respect to constitution, greater liberties may be taken than have
heretofore been judged admissible: persons afflicted with various
chronic complaints, of scrophulous, scorbutic, and arthritic habits;
persons of unwieldy corpulency, and of intemperate and irregular lives,
have all passed through this disease, with as much ease and safety as
the most temperate, healthy, and regular. But those who labour under
any acute or critical diseases, or their effects, are obviously unfit
and improper subjects. So likewise are those where there are evident
marks of corrosive acrimonious humours, or where there is a manifest
debility of the whole frame, from inanition, or any other cause: all
these should be treated in a proper manner previous to the introduction
of this disease. Constitutions disposed to frequent returns of
intermittents, seem likewise justly exceptionable; especially as the
preparatory regimen may in some habits increase this tendency. I have
known, however, instances of severe ague fits attacking persons between
the insertion of the matter and the eruption of the pock, and even
during maturation; when the Peruvian bark has been given liberally and
with success; the principal business, in the mean time, suffering no
injury or interruption.
Among the circumstances generally considered as more or less propitious
to inoculation, the season of the year has hitherto been deemed a
matter of some importance. Spring and autumn, for the most part, have
been recommended, as being the most temperate seasons; the cold of
winter, and the summer heats, having been judged unfavourable for this
process. But experience does not justify these opinions; for according
to the best observation I have been able to make, inoculated persons
have generally had more pustules in spring than at any other time of
the year; and epidemic diseases being commonly most frequent in autumn,
especially fluxes, intermittents, and ulcerated sore throats (all which
are liable to mix more or less with the small-pox) the autumn, upon
this account, does not seem to be the most favourable season in general.
My opinion is, that considering the surprizing and indisputable
benefits arising at all times to patients in the small-pox, from the
free admission of fresh cool air and evacuations (which will appear
from some cases hereafter subjoined) we may safely inoculate in
all seasons, provided care be taken to screen the patients as much
as possible from heat in summer, and to prevent them from keeping
themselves too warm, and too much shut up, as they are naturally
disposed to do, from the weather in winter. And it is well known, that
many have been inoculated in the depth of winter, and some during the
greatest heat in summer, without suffering any injury or inconvenience
from either.
When seasons, however, are marked with any peculiar epidemics, of such
a kind especially as may render a mild disease more untractable, it
may perhaps be most prudent not to inoculate while such diseases are
prevalent.
An eminent physician of my acquaintance in London, at that time in
considerable business, informed me that in the year 1756 the small-pox
were very rife, in the summer of that year especially. That in most of
them the throat was so much affected, that about the seventh day from
the eruption, when they ought to have taken liquors in abundance, they
could not swallow a drop. The ptyalism was in the mean time copious;
and the kind being for the most part confluent, they died on the tenth
or eleventh day; and those who sunk under this distemper (who were by
much the majority) all suffered from this cause. This instance is only
given to shew the necessity of regarding the general state of epidemics
when we go into this operation; and to excite those who are friends to
this most beneficial discovery, to use every means in their power to
provide against a single instance of ill success.
Of the PREPARATION.
In directing the preparatory regimen, I principally aim at these
points: to reduce the patient, if in high health, to a low and more
secure state; to strengthen the constitution, if too low; to correct
what appears vitiated, and to clear the stomach and bowels, as much as
may be, from all crudities and their effects. With this view, I order
such of my patients as constitute the first class, and who are by much
the majority, to live in the following manner: to abstain from all
animal food, including broths, also butter and cheese, and from all
fermented liquors, excepting small beer which is allowed sparingly, and
from all spices, and whatever possesses a manifest heating quality.
The diet is to consist of pudding, gruel, sago, milk, rice-milk,
fruit-pies, greens, roots, and vegetables of all the kinds in season,
prepared or raw. Eggs, though not to be eaten alone, are allowed in
puddings, and butter in pie-crust; the patients are to be careful
that they do not eat such a quantity as to overload their stomachs,
even of this kind of food. Tea, coffee, or chocolate are permitted for
breakfast, to those who choose or are accustomed to them.
In this manner they are to proceed about nine or ten days before the
operation; during which period, at nearly equal distances, they are
directed to take three doses of the following powder, either made into
pills, or mixed with a little syrup or jelly, at bed-time; and a dose
of Glauber’s salt, dissolved in thin water-gruel, each succeeding
morning.
The powder is composed of eight grains of calomel, the same quantity of
the compound powder of crabs claws, and one eighth part of a grain of
emetic tartar. Instead of emetic tartar, I have sometimes substituted
two grains of precipitated sulphur of antimony. In order to facilitate
the division of the doses, a large quantity is prepared at once, and
great care taken that the mixture is well performed.
This quantity is usually sufficient for a healthy strong man; and the
dose must be lessened for women or children, according to their age and
strength, as well as for persons advanced in years.
The first dose is commonly ordered at the commencement of the course,
the second, three or four days after, and the third, about the eighth
or ninth day; and I choose to inoculate the day after the last dose
has been taken. On the days of purging, broths are allowed, and the
patients are desired to abstain from unprepared vegetables.
What has hitherto been said concerning the preparation, must be
considered as proper only for the young or middle-aged, in a good
state of health; but among those who are desirous of inoculation are
often found tender, delicate, and weakly women, men of bad stamina,
valetudinarians by constitution, by illness, or intemperance; also
aged persons and children; and for these a very different treatment
is directed; a milder course of medicine, rather of the alterative
than purgative kind, is here preferable; and in many instances, an
indulgence in some light animal food, with a glass or two of wine in
case of lowness, is not only allowable, but necessary to support a
proper degree of strength, especially in advanced age.
Children whose bowels are often tender, and ought not to be ruffled by
strong purges, yet require a mild mercurial, and bear it well; besides
emptying the bowels of crudities, it is a good security against worms
and their effects, which are sometimes of themselves perplexing enough,
and produce very alarming and even fatal disorders.
Indeed the particular state of health of every person entering upon the
preparatory course, should be inquired into and considered. Inattention
to this has, I am satisfied, done great mischief, and particularly
the indiscreet use of mercurials, whereby a salivation has often been
raised, to the risque of impairing good constitutions, and the ruin of
such as were previously weak and infirm. The distinctions and treatment
necessary, will be obvious to those who are acquainted with the animal
œconomy and medical practice.
The time of menstruation has generally been the guide in respect to
the inoculation of women; that the whole of the disease might be over
within the menstrual period. This I commonly observe, when I can
choose my time without any inconvenience, and inoculate soon after
the evacuation ceases; though I have no reason to decline performing
the operation at any time, as I can produce many examples in which no
inconvenience has arisen, nor any difference been observable, when this
circumstance has been disregarded.
Women with child have likewise been inoculated, and done well; yet
some particular emergency should be pleaded in excuse for it in
their situation, as it may be attended with some hazard. I have
not inoculated any woman whom I knew to be pregnant; but some who
concealed their pregnancy have been inoculated by me, who, I fancy,
hoped for an event that did not happen, I mean miscarriages: one of
these had a child born nine weeks after inoculation, at the full time,
with distinct marks of the disease, though the mother had very few
eruptions.
Of INFECTION.
The manner of communicating this distemper by inoculation in this
country, has of late been the following: A thread is drawn through
a ripe pustule, and well moistened with the matter: a piece of this
thread is insinuated into a superficial incision made in one or both
arms, near the part where issues are usually fixed; this thread is
covered with a plaister, and there left for a day or two. This is the
most usual way, though others have been practised by several in the
profession.
At present, very different methods are pursued; two of which, that vary
in some respects, I have frequently practised, and shall describe; but
the following has been so invariably successful, as to induce me to
give it the preference.
The patient to be infected being in the same house, and, if no
objection is made to it, in the same room, with one who has the
disease, a little of the variolous matter is taken from the place of
insertion, if the subject is under inoculation; or a pustule, if in the
natural way, on the point of a lancet, so that both sides of the point
are moistened.
With this lancet an incision is made in that part of the arm where
issues are usually placed, deep enough to pass through the scarf skin,
and just to touch the skin itself, and in length as short as possible,
not more than one eighth of an inch.
The little wound being then stretched open between the finger and thumb
of the operator, the incision is moistened with the matter, by gently
touching it with the flat side of the infested lancet. This operation
is generally performed in both arms, and sometimes in two places in one
arm, a little distance from each other. For as I have not observed any
inconvenience from two or three incisions, I seldom trust to one; that
neither I nor my patient may be under any doubt about the success of
the operation from its being performed in one place only.
I have also tried the following method, with the same success as that
above described, but do not so well approve of it, because I have been
credibly informed that it has sometimes failed in the practice of
others. A lancet being moistened with the variolous fluid in the same
manner as in the other, is gently introduced, in an oblique manner,
between the scarf and true skin, and the finger of the operator is
applied on the point, in order to wipe off the infection from the
lancet, when it is withdrawn. In this method, as well as in the former,
a little blood will sometimes appear, but I neither draw blood with
design, nor do I think it necessary to wipe it off before the matter is
introduced.
In both these ways of inoculating, neither plaister, bandage, or
covering is applied, or in any respect necessary.
These methods of producing the disease never once have failed me;
and experience has sufficiently proved, that there is no danger from
additional infection by the natural disease at the same time. I
therefore make no scruple of having the person to be inoculated, and
the patient from whom the infection is to be taken, in the same room;
nor have ever perceived any ill consequences attending it. But I advise
the inoculated patients (though perhaps there is no necessity for that
precaution) to be afterwards separated from places of infection till
certain signs of success appear, when all restraint is removed, there
being no danger from accumulation.
It seems to be of no consequence whether the infecting matter be taken
from the natural or inoculated small-pox; I have used both, and never
have been able to discover the least difference, either in point of
certainty of infection, the progress, or the event: and therefore I
take the infection from either, as opportunity offers, or at the option
of my patients or their friends.
Nor is it of consequence whether the matter be taken before, or at the
crisis of, the distemper. It is, I believe, generally supposed, that
the small-pox is not infectious till after the matter has acquired a
certain degree of maturity; and in the common method of inoculation,
this is much attended to; and when the operation has failed, it has
commonly been ascribed to the unripeness of the matter.
But it appears very clearly from the present practice of inoculation,
that so soon as any moisture can be taken from the infected part of
an inoculated patient, previous to the appearance of any pustules,
and even previous to the eruptive fever, this moisture is capable of
communicating the small-pox with the utmost certainty. I have taken a
little clear fluid from the elevated pellicle on the incised part, even
so early as the fourth day after the operation, and have at other times
used matter fully digested at the crisis, with equal success. I chuse,
however, in general, to take matter for infection during the fever of
eruption, as I suppose it at that time to have its utmost activity.
In all cases, when I take matter from an inoculated person, it is from
the place where it was inserted; as I am always sure to find infection
there if the disease succeeds, and always of sufficient energy.
It may appear strange that no bandage, dressing, or application
whatsoever, is made use of to the part infected; but that the most
simple incision being made, and moistened with the smallest particle of
the recent fluid matter, the whole is committed to nature. This method
is however perfectly right, because the application of either plaister
or unguent, as is the usual practice, will occasion an inflammation on
some skins, and in all tend to disguise the natural appearance of the
incision, and prevent our forming a proper judgment of the progress
of the infection; which will afterwards appear to be a matter of much
importance.
If neither an inoculated patient is at hand, nor any one in the
neighbourhood has a distinct kind of the natural disease, a thread may
be used as in the common manner, provided the thread be very recently
infected; but I think it ought to be used as soon as possible after
being charged with infecting matter.
The following method of introducing the disease has likewise been
found effectual; but I have never practised it myself. Dip the point
of a lancet in variolous matter; let it be held in the air till it is
dry; after which it may be closed and kept in the common case without
any further care; and with this prepared lancet raise the scarf skin
obliquely, and keep the lancet a little time in motion between the two
skins, that part of the matter may be mixed with the animal juices;
then withdraw the lancet, and leave the incision uncovered as before.
OF THE PROGRESS OF INFECTION.
Hitherto very little regard seems to have been paid to the progress
of infection discoverable by the part where the operation was
performed. But it will appear in the sequel, that an attention to this
circumstance is very necessary, because a just prognostic may thence be
sometimes formed of the future state of the distemper, and indications
may be taken from the different appearances on the arm, that will
enable us to prevent inconveniencies.
The former method of covering the place of incision with a plaister,
and continuing upon it dressings of one sort or another, prevented much
useful information of this kind. They prevented any judgment by the
touch, and sometimes rendered that by the eye equivocal.
The day after the operation is performed, though it takes effect,
little alteration is discoverable. On the second day, if the part is
viewed with a lens, there generally appears a kind of orange-coloured
stain about the incision, and the surrounding skin seems to contract.
At this time I usually give the following medicine at going to bed,
either mixed with a little of any kind of jelly, or more frequently
made into a pill.
Calomel and compound powder of crabs claws, of each 3 grains,
emetic tartar 1/10 of a grain.
A quantity of this medicine should be carefully prepared at once, in
order to make the division more exact.
On the fourth or fifth day, upon applying the finger, a hardness is to
be felt by the touch. The patient perceives an itching on the part,
which appears slightly inflamed; and under a kind of vesication is seen
a little clear fluid; the part resembling a superficial burn. About the
sixth, most commonly, some pain and stiffness is felt in the axilla;
and this is a very pleasing symptom, as it not only foretells the near
approach of the eruptive symptoms, but is a sign of a favourable
progress of the disease. Sometimes on the seventh, oftener on the
eighth day, symptoms of the eruptive fever appear; such as slight
remitting pains in the head and back, succeeded by transient shiverings
and alternate heats, which in a greater or less degree, continue till
the eruption is perfected. At this time also it is usual for the
patient to complain of a very disagreeable taste in his mouth, the
breath is always fetid, and the smell of it different from what I have
ever observed in any case, except in the variolous eruptive fever.
The inflammation in the arms at this time spreads fast; and upon
viewing it with a good glass, the incision, for the most part, appears
surrounded with an infinite number of small confluent pustules, which
increase in size and extent as the disease advances. On the tenth or
eleventh day, a circular or oval efflorescence is usually discovered,
surrounding the incision, and extending sometimes near half round
the arm, but more frequently to about the size of a shilling; and
being under the cuticle, is smooth to the touch, and not painful.
This appearance is also a very pleasing one; it accompanies eruption;
every disagreeable symptom ceases; and at the same time it certainly
indicates the whole affair to be over; the pain and stiffness in the
axilla also going off.
The feverish symptoms are for the most part so mild, as seldom to
require any medicinal assistance, except a repetition of the same
medicine that was directed on the second night after the operation; and
on the following morning this laxative draught, to procure three or
four stools;
Infusion of sena two ounces, manna half an ounce, tincture of jalap
two drams.
These are given as soon as the eruptive symptoms are perceivable, if
they seem to indicate any uncommon degree of vehemence.
It has been observed, that by attending to the progress of infection,
we may be able to prognosticate, with some degree of certainty, the
event of the distemper in general. Particular incidents will ever
happen, but not sufficient to destroy the propriety of general rules.
If the appearances already described are observed early, a very
favourable event is implied: but it happens in some cases, although
it may be perceived that the inoculation has succeeded, yet it is
barely perceptible; the colour about the wound remaining pale, instead
of changing to red or inflamed; the edges of the incision spread but
little, they remain flat, scarcely rising at all, and are attended
neither with itching or uneasiness of any kind. Nay, sometimes on the
fifth, and even the sixth-day, the alteration is so little, as to make
it doubtful whether the infection has taken place.
When matters are in this state, the appearance is unfavourable, and
implies a late and more untoward disease: to prevent which, I direct
the powder or pill to be taken each night; and in case it fails to
operate by stool, or there is the least disposition to costiveness, an
ounce of Glauber’s salts, or more commonly the laxative draught already
mentioned, is given in the morning, once or twice, as the case may
require. This course forwards the inflammation, which I always wish to
see; as I have constantly observed, that an early progress on the arm,
and an early commencement of the eruptive complaints, portend that the
distemper will be mild and favourable; and on the contrary, where both
are late, the symptoms are usually more irregular and untoward.
Being now arrived at the most interesting period of this distemper,
the eruption, a period in which the present practice I am about to
recommend, differs essentially from the method heretofore in use, and
on the right management of which much depends, it will be requisite to
give clear and explicit directions on this head, and to advise their
being pursued with firmness and moderation.
Instead of confining the patient to his bed, or his room, when the
symptoms of the eruptive fever come on, he is directed, as soon as
the purging medicine has operated, to keep abroad in the open air,
be it ever so cold, as much as he can bear, and to drink cold water,
if thirsty; always taking care not to stand still, but to walk about
moderately, while abroad.
This treatment indeed seems as hard at first to the patients, as it
must appear singular to the reader; but the effects are so salutary,
and so constantly confirmed by experience, and an easy progress through
every stage of the disease depends so much upon it, that I admit of no
exception, unless the weather be extremely severe, and the constitution
very delicate. And it is indisputably true, that in the few instances
where the symptoms of eruption have run very high, the patients
dreading any motion, and fearing the cold as the greatest evil, yet,
when under these circumstances, I have persuaded them to rise out of
bed, and go out of doors, though led sometimes by two assistants, and
have allowed them to drink as much cold water as they chose, they have
not suffered the least sinister accident: on the contrary, after
they have been prevailed on, although reluctantly, to comply with
these directions, they find their spirits revived; an inclination
for nourishment returns; they rest well; a gentle sweat succeeds,
accompanied with a favourable eruption; and the fever seems wholly to
be extinguished.
In general, the complaints in this state are very moderate, and
attended with so little illness, that the patient eats and sleeps well
the whole time: a few pustules appear, sometimes equally dispersed;
sometimes the inflammations on the arms spread, and are surrounded with
a few pustules, which gradually advance to maturity; during which time,
for the most part, the eruption proceeds kindly, and there is much more
difficulty to restrain the patients within due bounds, and prevent
their mixing with the public, and spreading the infection (which I
always endeavour to prevent) than there was at first to prevail upon
them to go abroad. During this time medicine is seldom wanted; the
cool air seems the best cordial; and if any uncommon languor happens,
a bason of small broth, or a glass of wine, is allowed in the day, or
some white-wine whey at bed time; which are indeed at any time allowed
to tender, aged, or weakly persons.
With these exceptions, they have hitherto been kept very scrupulously
to the diet at first directed. But after the eruption is completed, if
occasion requires, they are indulged in a little well-boiled meat of
the lightest kind, as chicken, veal, or mutton.
The regimen above-mentioned, the cooling alterative purges, and the
free use of cool air at the season of eruption, almost universally
prevent either alarming symptoms, or a large crop of pustules. A few
I have seen with such a quantity of pustules, though distinct, that I
have neither advised nor allowed them to go out of the house. But the
generality of my patients, when the eruptions are few, amuse themselves
abroad within proper limits, with the pustules out upon them.
I neither enjoin this, nor maintain that it is necessary; but have
not been able to observe that any inconvenience has arisen from it.
And, how strange soever it may appear, it is true, that those who
are most adventurous, seem to be in better spirits, and more free
from complaints, than others who are inclined to keep within-doors.
And indeed, such of my patients as have received the benefit of this
treatment themselves, seldom permit those who are in the hardest
part of the distemper, the eruptive, to keep much in the house; but
encourage them to bear a little hardship, by recounting to them the
benefit they have reaped from the method they are recommending.
Those who have the disease in the slightest manner first described,
viz. without any appearance of eruption but on the inoculated part, are
soon allowed to go about their usual affairs; and many instances have
happened of very industrious poor men, who have instantly returned to
their daily labour, with a caution not to intermix with those who have
not had the distemper, for fear of spreading it; and with directions
to take two or three times of the purge already directed, or as many
doses of Glauber’s salts. Those who have it in a greater degree, are
confined somewhat longer; and a very mild laxative is now-and-then
exhibited, if there is the least disposition to costiveness; as the
progress to maturation appears rather to be advanced than retarded by
the operation.
When the maturation is completed, and it is evident we have nothing
further to fear from the distemper, I allow my patients gradually
to change their course of diet, from the perfectly cooling kind, to
one a little more generous; recommending strictly to all a return to
their ordinary animal diet with much caution and restraint upon their
appetites, both in respect to food and fermented liquors.
It is not often that we are under a necessity of making any application
to the part where the operation was performed; it most commonly heals
up, and is covered with a scab, about the time when, in a natural way,
all the pocks would have been dried up: but there are some cases
wherein the incisions continue to discharge a purulent matter longer;
in these instances it is sufficient to cover the place with the white
cerate, or any other mild emplastic substance, which may at once
prevent the linen from adhering to the sore, and defend it from the
air. And as in these cases the part remains unhealed from some peculiar
cause in the habit, it will be necessary to give gentle purgatives, and
proper alteratives, as particular exigencies may require.
OF ANOMALOUS SYMPTOMS AND APPEARANCES.
In the preceding pages I have described the usual progress of the
small-pox from the inoculation. There are, however, deviations from
this course, and indeed not a few; some of the most material of which,
as they may embarrass the inexperienced, and create a real difficulty,
as well as apprehensions of danger, it seems necessary to describe, and
to point out the means that experience has suggested to remove these
symptoms, or the doubts respecting the event.
The first I shall take notice of, and which, though it very rarely
happens, sometimes gives much trouble, is great sickness, accompanied
with vomiting, coming on during the eruptive state of the distemper.
For this complaint it is always necessary in the first place to clear
the stomach; which may be effected, either by ordering the patient to
drink plentifully of warm liquids to promote vomiting; or, perhaps more
properly, by given one grain of emetic tartar to an adult, mixed with
ten grains of compound powder of crabs claws; taking care to lessen the
dose for very young and weak subjects.
This usually throws off some bilious matter by vomit, sometimes
procures stools, or occasions a moderate sweat, and generally
administers relief. If, however, no stools should follow from this
medicine, and the sickness should remain, a gentle laxative almost
certainly procures a respite, and the appearance of the eruption
removes the complaint intirely.
Another deviation, of still more consequence, which sometimes happens
towards the time of the eruption, and is often, though not always,
accompanied with great sickness, is an erysipelatous efflorescence.
This, if it shews itself on the skin partially, and here and there in
patches, is not very alarming, and soon wears off.
But sometimes the whole surface of the skin is covered with a rash
intimately mixed with the variolous eruption, and so much resembling
the most malignant kind of confluent small-pox, as scarcely to be
distinguished from it: and indeed some cases of this sort have
happened, where, being accompanied with petechiæ and livid spots, I
have been much alarmed; not being able, by inspection only, though
assisted by glasses, to determine whether what I saw was an inoffensive
rash, or tokens of the greatest malignity. Very strict attention,
however, has enabled me to distinguish the difference clearly; and the
following observations will, I hope, tend to relieve others from the
anxiety they would feel upon such an appearance.
The real and essential difference then is to be gathered from the
concomitant symptoms. In the erysipelatous or variolous rash, there
is not so much fever, nor is the restlessness, or a pain of the head
or loins, so considerable; neither is there that general prostration
of strength, which are almost never-failing attendants on a confluent
small-pox, especially when accompanied with such putrid appearances.
Besides, upon a careful examination, there may sometimes be discerned
a few distinct pustules, larger than the rest, mixed with the rash,
which are indeed the real small-pox. In these cases the patients are
ordered to refrain from cold water, or any thing cold, and to keep
within doors, but not to go to bed. If any sickness yet remains, a
little white-wine whey, or other moderate cordial, is advised; and this
method has hitherto been so successful, as to prevent any alarming
complaint. After two or three days, the skin from a florid changes to a
dusky colour, a few distinct pustules remain, and advance properly to
maturation, without any further trouble ensuing from this formidable
appearance[1].
[1] See Cases XIII. XIV.
This rash has often been mistaken for the confluence it so nearly
resembles, and has afforded occasion for some practitioners, either
ignorantly or disingenuously, to pretend, that after a very copious
eruption of the confluent pox, they can by a specific medicine
discharge the major part of the pustules, leaving only as many
distinct ones as may satisfy the patient that he has the disease. Such
pretensions have certainly been made; and the patient, who has been
deceived in this manner, has contributed to spread reports untrue as to
the fact, and probably prejudicial to the health of others, who in like
circumstances have been sent into the open air, by which, and other
cool means, the rash has been repelled, and the bad effects experienced
afterwards.
I must also observe here, that rashes of the kind I have described
frequently happen during the preparation (whether owing to the regimen,
or medicine, or both, I cannot say) and cause the operation to be
postponed: and I have observed, that in such cases they are apt to
return at the time of the eruption of the small-pox.
In general, as has been already said, the symptoms which precede
eruption commence at the end of the seventh, or in the eighth day,
inclusive from the operation; but it often happens that they appear
much sooner, and sometimes much later, than the time above-mentioned.
For instance, I have seen some cases wherein the disease has happened
so suddenly after infection, and with so little complaint or
uneasiness, that the whole affair has been terminated, purges taken,
and the patient returned home perfectly well in a week’s time; before
others, inoculated at the same time, from the same patient, and under
the same circumstances, have begun to complain.
In this case the inoculated part shews early certain marks of
infection, sometimes on the very next day, or the day after, when
the incision will often appear considerably inflamed and elevated.
The patient about this time frequently makes some of the following
complaints, viz. chillness, itchings, and small pricking pains in the
part, and sometimes on the shoulder, giddiness, drowsiness, and a
slight head-ach, sometimes attended with a feverish heat, but often
without any: the account they themselves give of their feelings, is,
in some, as if they had drank too much, and in others, as if they had
caught a cold. These complaints seldom last twenty-four hours, often
not so long, and with frequent remissions, and never, that I remember,
rise to a degree that requires confinement. The inflammation on the arm
at the time of the complaints, advances apace, and feels hard to the
touch; but upon their wearing off, the inflamed appearances gradually
lessen, and the part dries to a common small scab; the skin that was
before red, turns livid, and the party is quite well, and nothing more
heard of the distemper[2]. In some instances these symptoms attack much
later; even on the seventh or eighth day, when an eruption might be
expected in consequence of them, yet none appears; but the arm gets
well very soon, and the disease is at an end.
[2] See Case I.-XII.
In this irregular sort of the disorder there have, however, been
some examples where a few eruptions have appeared, and probably in
consequence of the inoculation; yet the pustules have not looked like
the true pocks, nor maturated like them, nor lasted longer than three
days; about which time they, for the most part, have dried away.
As I find it difficult to describe the variety and irregularity of
symptoms that occur in this short way of having the distemper, I will
give some cases, by way of illustrating the matter more to the reader’s
satisfaction.
When subjects of this sort first occurred in my practice, I was in
doubt whether they were quite secure from any future attacks of
the distemper; and in order to try whether they were so or not, I
inoculated them a second time, and caused them to associate with
persons in every stage of the disease, and to try all other means of
catching the infection; and this method has been practised with the
generality of such patients ever since, yet without a single instance
of its producing any disorder: so that I now make no scruple of
pronouncing them perfectly safe; and experience has enabled me, for the
most part, to foretell, in two or three days after the operation, when
the disease will pass in this slight manner.
Upon the second inoculation, however, the incised parts are commonly
inflamed for a day or two, just in the same manner as I have, in
numerous instances, found them to be, as well in those who, though
certain of having had the small-pox in the natural way, have submitted
to be inoculated merely for the experiment sake, that the result might
be observed; as in others, who, being doubtful whether they have had it
or not, have been inoculated, in order to be satisfied. But in all such
cases the parts soon became well; nor did any of those appearances
which have been described as the constant attendants on inoculation, as
pain in the head, giddiness, marks of infection in the arm, &c. ensue;
nor can they ever be produced upon a person who has had the small-pox
before, either in the natural way or by inoculation; and therefore it
cannot with reason be suggested, that the patients, whom I suppose to
get through the disease in the very slight manner above described, may
possibly have had the small-pox unobserved in some former part of their
lives.
Another irregularity deserving notice here, is, that sometimes, upon
the abatement of the fever and other symptoms, after the appearance
of several pustules, and when the eruptive stage of the disease seems
completed, it nevertheless happens that fresh eruptions come out,
and continue doing so daily, for 4, 5, or even 6 days successively;
preceded sometimes by a slight pain in the head, though more frequently
they appear without any new disturbance. These are generally few in
number, short-liv’d, and seldom come to maturity. But I have seen
four cases, in each of which, after a cessation of complaints, and
an appearance of few pustules, the eruptive stage of the disease was
thought to be over, yet in two or three days a fresh fit of fever has
attacked the patients, and after a short illness a quantity of new
pustules has broken out, far exceeding the first number, and these
remained, and maturated completely. Instances of this kind may be found
among the cases annexed[3].
[3] Vide Cases XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII.
Some of my own patients, and, as I am credibly informed, of other
inoculators in this way, have had considerable eruptions of this kind
after they have returned home; which have probably given occasion for
the reports of several having had the disease again in the natural way
after inoculation. But that these reports are ill-grounded, will appear
from this observation, to wit, that in all the cases of this sort which
have occurred in my own practice, or, as far as I can learn, in that
of others, the second or latter crop of pustules has always happened
within the time usually allowed for the progress of the small-pox
from inoculation, and before the inflammation on the arm has ceased,
and sooner than they could be supposed to be produced by infection
taken in the natural way; and whenever it has happened, it has been to
persons in whom, after a slight eruption, and abatement of symptoms,
the disease has prematurely been judged to be quite over, and they have
therefore been permitted to return to their families.
It will doubtless be asked, how cases of this kind should ever happen
among those who return home as cured? To which I answer, That it is
no unusual thing for industrious men, after a slight eruption, and
cessation of all complaints, to ask leave to return home to their
occupations and families; and where it has been thought that no danger
would accrue to others, their request has been often granted; for the
physician, no more than the patient, can foresee when these accidents
shall follow: but it may be observed here, that in all these cases
of my own knowledge, very repellent methods have been used in the
beginning; and a more generous diet or greater exercise afterwards, has
seemed to contribute to this secondary eruption.
Before I conclude this chapter, it may be proper to observe, that
inoculated patients, in some stage or other of the disease, may
possibly be attacked with diseases altogether independent of the
small-pox; such, for instance, as may arise from worms, or be the
epidemic of the season, or such as the patient may by constitution
be subject to; and some cases of this sort will be found among those
annexed.[4]
[4] Vide Cases XVII. XIX. XXI.
CONSEQUENCES of this Method of INOCULATION.
I shall now consider the consequences that follow this very cool and
repelling method, and how far the patient’s future state of health
may be affected by a practice so new, and opposite to all established
theory.
I need not say how much it has been thought right, in most or all
eruptive complaints, especially in the small-pox, to forward, by
every gentle means, the efforts of nature in producing an eruption;
and on the contrary, how dangerous to check it, either by cold air,
cold drink, or any considerable evacuations; or that the use of warm
diluents, therefore, and the lying in bed, especially if the fever
and symptoms run high, or at least confining to the house, have been
generally approved and recommended for the purpose. But when a practice
so foreign to this, and almost totally different, is inculcated, it is
no wonder if men’s minds are alarmed, and those evils expected that
were supposed to be the unavoidable consequences of it.
Experience, however, and instances of so many thousands succeeding
by this method, without any considerable bad effects from it, either
immediate or remote, are irresistible arguments for its support and
justification, and the best proof of its utility and safety. I have
said, without any considerable bad effects; for in reality I have seen
none that deserve that name, if compared with what sometimes follow
the natural small-pox, or frequently happen after the old method of
inoculation.
Every one who has had any share in this practice according to the
common or old methods, will allow, that after passing through the
disease in a very favourable manner, their patients (children
especially) were frequently liable to abscesses in the axilla and other
parts, tedious ophthalmies, and troublesome ulcerations in the place of
insertion; which though they could not be foreseen or prevented, yet
frequently gave more pain and vexation to the patients, and trouble
to the operator, than the disease itself had done: whereas on inquiry
into the fate of those who have been treated in the cool way, or this
new method, I can say, that in more than 1500 there has been only one
who has had so much as a boil in the axilla; and that was in a child
who had an issue in the same arm, and which was at that time dried up:
and I have only seen two very small superficial boils in others near
the place of insertion; and these seemed rather to be occasioned by an
irritation from the discharge, than from any other cause, and were all
soon healed with very little trouble.
In a few instances also there has been a slough in the incised part,
which has made a sore of short duration; but not one instance of an
ulcer of any continuance. Such little breakings out too, and scabs, as
are frequently known to succeed the mild natural small-pox, sometimes,
though rarely, happen to those inoculated this way; and as they are of
the same little consequence, are generally cured by the same method of
a few gentle purges.
With regard to ophthalmies from this kind of practice, I have never
had an example of one truly deserving that name; the coats of the eye
have been a little inflamed in a very few, but they soon became clear,
without any means used for that purpose. And I know but two cases where
I thought the inflammation great enough to require bleeding, and not
one where a blister was necessary. So that these complaints, heretofore
so frequent and grievous, seem by this new method to be much reduced: a
circumstance which, if it does not amount to a proof, admits at least
of a fair conjecture, that the state of health is better here, than
where those remains of putridity are so evidently existing in the habit.
Discoveries in physic, as in every other science, are in their
infancy liable to censure and opposition; and as the present system
of inoculation is of so extraordinary a kind, it would not be strange
if a greater portion of both than usual should fall to its share.
Accordingly, since no charge of fatality during the disease, nor
instances of bad effects soon after the recovery, can be produced,
recourse has been had to other measures to calumniate and discredit the
practice. It would be tedious to enter into a detail of the many false
and ridiculous reports that have been spread against it. In general,
the constitution is said to be injured, and the dreadful effects are
to appear at some distant period; but at what time, or what kind of
disease, nobody pretends to determine. To these general accusations it
cannot be expected I should give other than a general answer; which
is, that from the strictest observation and inquiry I have been able
to make, those who have been inoculated in this way, have continued to
enjoy as good a state of health as their neighbours; nay, many of them
have thought their constitutions better after the process than before.
But it seems as if these opposers expected that inoculation should not
only free the inoculated from the small-pox, and any early bad effects,
but must preserve them too from all other disorders through the rest of
their lives. To such I can say nothing; but if others, who are more
reasonable, require further satisfaction as to the consequences of
this method, I must desire them to make inquiry of those who have been
inoculated under my direction.
Another charge against this method of inoculation is, that some have
had the distemper afterwards in the natural way. What I have said under
the head of anomalous small-pox, will I believe sufficiently account
for the appearances which have occasioned these false reports; and if
that does not satisfy, I can only add this positive declaration, that
nothing of the kind has ever happened to any patient inoculated by me;
and I firmly believe, no one has ever had, or can have, the distemper a
second time, either in the natural way or from inoculation.
The EFFECTS of this TREATMENT applied to the natural SMALL-POX.
The very great relief which persons under inoculation experience from
fresh air, cold water, and evacuations by stool, during the fever
preceding eruption, soon determined me to make trial how far the
like treatment might be useful to those who might be seized with the
small-pox in the natural way; more especially in such cases, where,
from the violence of the symptoms, a confluent kind was justly to be
apprehended.
But opportunities of making experiments of this sort in a satisfactory
manner are rare. First, because a physician, or even medical assistance
of any kind, is not often called in till the eruption shews itself;
when it is too late to expect all the good effects that might be hoped
for, from an earlier trial of this method: and secondly, because the
first attack of the small-pox is so much like the beginning of some
other fevers as not easily to be distinguished; though a diligent
attention to the symptoms, will generally, if we are called in time,
enable us to form a pretty certain prognostic. For if the attack of the
cold fit be pretty severe, and the subsequent fever unusually high;
if a nausea and vomiting succeed, together with great pains in the
head, back, and loins, especially in the last; if a delirium, great
restlessness, disagreeable taste in the mouth, and a peculiar fœtid
smell in the breath, or even if several of these symptoms are observed,
the small-pox may with great reason be expected; and if upon inquiry,
which should always be made, it appears that the patient has been in
the way of infection, there will be little reason to doubt it.
It may be objected, that notwithstanding the closest attention and
inquiry, symptoms of the like nature may precede fevers of other kinds;
to which I answer, that some such cases, though few, have happened;
and the treatment I am about to recommend has been practised not only
without prejudice to the patient, but manifestly to his benefit.
But waving for the present all considerations respecting the treatment
of fevers in general, I shall only relate what has occurred to me in
respect to the natural small-pox.
In several instances where I have been concerned, and where the
symptoms and other concurring circumstances induced me to think the
small-pox was at hand, I have directed the like management as I
recommend to inoculated patients[5].
[5] See Cases XXIII. XXIV. XXVIII.
I have been called also to others at the time of eruption, where some
pustules having already appeared, made the matter clear; and in every
case of this kind, I have endeavoured to get the sick person into the
open air, have generally given the mercurial and antimonial pill,
and directed a laxative to be taken some hours after it, in order to
procure three or four stools; and this method I have more particularly
enjoined, and sometimes repeated, where the kind has appeared to be
bad, and where little or no relief has been found from the partial
eruption; the symptoms continuing to be such as portended great danger.
I have followed the same method during every part of the eruptive
fever, intending thereby to abate its violence, to check the eruption,
and prevent the conflux, and consequently the danger[6].
[6] See Cases XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXIX.
The success attending this practice has hitherto exceeded my
expectations; though it must be confessed, that as the symptoms run
much higher in the natural, than they are found to do in the inoculated
disease, the relief has not been so considerable; and I have found
it extremely difficult to persuade such whose complaints have been
very severe, to quit their beds, and attempt to go abroad: indeed the
exceeding feeble state they are sometimes in, sufficiently shews that
great resolution is requisite to put this in practice.
Among those who have been treated in this manner under my own care
and inspection, not one has died, and the number amounts to about 40.
Some of the most remarkable cases will be subjoined, which will more
satisfactorily explain the practice, and demonstrate its success.
The immediate sensible effects of going into the open air, are, a very
great abatement of heat upon the whole surface of the skin, which,
though but just before intensely hot, generally in a short time feels
not much warmer than that of a person in health: the pulse, from being
very strong, full, and quick, becomes less hard and full, but continues
quick; and I have sometimes observed it to intermit; which, however
alarming it may seem, is not a dangerous symptom.
The pain in the head is always relieved, but that in the back and loins
does not abate in proportion: and although it costs no little pain and
trouble to persist in moving abroad under such circumstances, attended
for the most part with great lassitude, yet the patients are sensible
of the benefits they receive; and entertaining a good opinion of the
usefulness of the practice, commonly behave with great resolution;
and, what is very encouraging, in general think themselves stronger.
Upon going within doors to rest themselves, the pain in the head grows
worse, but is again relieved as soon as they return into the air.
The effects of the medicines are usually these:
If there has been much sickness at stomach, a vomiting frequently
happens soon after the pill: this the patients should promote by
drinking plentifully of some warm diluents; and till the fatigue
occasioned by it is over, they certainly ought not to go abroad.
By this operation, and the stools which succeed, the feverish and
internal heat, the thirst, sickness, and pains, are for the most part
considerably abated. The patients commonly complain of being very
low and faint after these evacuations; but the most urgent symptoms
being alleviated thereby, a disposition to receive nourishment hourly
increases. They are then allowed to drink thin mutton or chicken broth,
milk pottage, or tea, as the most grateful and refreshing cordial
sustenance they can take. Sleep likewise now most commonly comes on
spontaneously. But they are permitted to enjoy this refreshment by day
upon the bed only; for I always dissuade them from going into it till
night.
From the foregoing account it appears, that the fever preceding
eruption, and the most grievous symptoms accompanying it, are often
greatly mitigated by this practice; and I will here add, that the
eruption is most certainly retarded, that is, it does not appear so
soon after the attack of the disease, nor come out so precipitately
when it has begun to appear, as it seemed likely to have done if the
natural progress had not been interrupted; an effect, which, however
dangerous it may have been thought, may be produced with the utmost
safety, and clearly shews the utility of the practice. For it is
evident from experience, that the later the eruption shews itself
after the beginning of the disease, and the slower it comes out, the
more mild and favourable is the subsequent disorder. And I am of
opinion, that the eruption is not only retarded and protracted by this
method, but likewise that it is in some degree repressed; having had
strong reasons to apprehend, in several instances, that the number of
pustules, which appeared at first, were by such repression actually
diminished; and those that remained seemed larger, and of a milder kind.
What has hitherto been said on the subject, relates only to the disease
in its eruptive state, which is certainly a very interesting period;
but that which follows is not less so, though not always attended
to so much as it deserves: for when the eruption is completed, the
symptoms abate, the patients seem relieved, and often to such a degree,
that both they, and their attendants, flatter themselves with hopes
of a happy event, and think it unnecessary to apply for any medical
assistance; yet with all these hopeful appearances, the number and
kind of the small-pox are frequently such, as would make a judicious
practitioner apprehensive of much danger in the subsequent stages.
And where the practitioners themselves may see reason to doubt of the
event, yet few or none of them have attempted, I believe, to do much
towards preventing the danger; for, unless some pressing symptoms
call for immediate relief, it is the general practice to wait till
maturation comes on, and brings with it such a train of dreadful
complaints, as are more than enough to employ, and too often baffle the
best abilities.
In this neglected interval, from the eruption being completed, to
the accession of the fever of maturation, and its concomitants (an
interval which, in point of duration, is very different in different
constitutions and kinds of small-pox); I will venture in general to
recommend the same mercurial antimonial medicine as was prescribed
in the eruptive fever, to be repeated at proper intervals, till the
maturation advances; at which time it must certainly be discontinued:
and these circumstances can be regulated only by those who attend,
according to the urgency of the symptoms, and the strength of the
patients: a cupful of the following apozem should, if necessary, be
now-and-then taken after the mercurial medicine; often enough to
procure three or four stools a day, especially if the patient is
costive.
Take cream of tartar, two drachms; of manna, one ounce; dissolve
them in one quart of barley water, or the pectoral drink.
How far it may be safe or advisable for the patients to venture
out into the open air during this stage of the disease, I will not
yet pretend to say; but they will certainly be both refreshed and
invigorated, by being kept out of bed as much as they can bear, without
being over-fatigued; and by fresh air let in sometimes through an open
window.
As the violence of the eruptive fever, with its attendant complaints,
must necessarily exhaust the strength and spirits, both should in this
interval be recruited, by as much proper nourishment (such as has
been mentioned in the former part of this chapter) as can be taken
down without offending the stomach; and also, if occasion requires,
with medicines of a cordial and anodyne quality: for this is the time
to recover as much strength as possible, in order to be better able
to encounter and bear the pain and fever, which will most certainly
happen, as the state of maturation advances.
Medicines, except what have been already mentioned, seem at this time
unnecessary; and they would interfere with, and prevent the true relish
for, food.
But for the best method of treating the small-pox in its most dangerous
stage, I mean that of maturation, I must refer to the several learned
and eminent practitioners who have professedly written upon the
subject, whose opinions and practice I neither pretend to correct or
amend. I shall however take the liberty to recommend one medicine
to be used in that stage of the disease, which I have found to abate
heat, and allay thirst, in such a manner as to afford a very pleasing
refreshment.
Take of the weak spirit of vitriol one part, of the sweet spirit
of vitriol two parts; mix. Of this the quantity of half an ounce
may be added to a quart, or perhaps three pints, of barley water,
or the pectoral drink, or any other diluent, and to be drank of at
pleasure.
I have at present nothing farther to recommend; but what has been
said will I presume be sufficient, with the cases annexed (in which
the method will be more plainly described) to justify farther trials
of the cooling, repelling, and evacuating practice in the beginning,
at least, of the natural small-pox, till the eruption is completed;
especially where the physician has an opportunity of making the trial
before the eruption appears, and can be pretty certain, or has good
reason to conclude, that his patient’s disorder is variolous. And the
more violent the symptoms are in this stage of the disease, the more we
should be induced to employ the means which have been attended with so
much success, in the same stage of the disease after inoculation.
But it may be asked, if I was called to a patient in a bad confluent
small-pox, and finding the eruption completed, whether in such a case
I should venture to give and continue the use of the alterative and
purgative medicine; and advise the patient to go out, if he can bear
it, into the open air in cold weather, or direct air to be let in
through a window even while the mercurial purge may be operating.
Before I give a direct answer to this question, let me first ask the
most experienced practitioner, whether he knows any method of cure
which may in bad cases be safely relied on, to avert the impending
danger, and save his patients? The too well known fatality of all
kinds of small-pox, very clearly proves that he does not, and that no
such method has yet been discovered. And if this be the case, surely
a bold, and even hazardous practice, is very justifiable towards any
such unhappy patients, who lie as it were under sentence of a cruel
death, not to be prevented by what are called the regular and usual
methods. But still it may be urged, that no impending danger, however
great, can sufficiently justify the trial of any hazardous experiment,
unless supported by some degree of reason or experience. Happy, indeed,
it is, when we have these two guides before us; but when they are
separated, the latter is certainly most to be relied on, and her I have
endeavoured hitherto to follow.
For in the practice of inoculation experience has taught me, that
after as well as before the eruption, persons may safely take
mercurial purges, and go out during their operation (though I have
seldom advised any to do so) into the cold air, in inclement weather,
without suffering the least harm or subsequent ill consequence from
it. And by this experience I was led, though with great caution, to
try whether the same practice might not be safely employed in the
cure of the natural small-pox, as well as the inoculated; nor have the
trials been unsuccessful: for though among the patients I have treated
in this manner, some had confluent sorts, yet were the complaints
unusually moderate throughout the whole progress of the disease, and
the maturation was completed, without such troublesome and alarming
symptoms and events as might be expected under any other known method
of treatment; nor did any secondary fever ensue.
I would not, however, be understood to entertain so good an opinion of
this method, as to insinuate that it will save all who have the bad
confluent kind; too many of these are incurable; but I am not without
hopes, that it may give a chance of recovery, hitherto untried, to
many: and even if this alterative and evacuating course in the early
part of the disease should not succeed, so as to avert the approaching
danger, I think there is great reason to suppose that nourishment,
cordials, and opiates, which may be wanted in the state of maturation,
will be administered with more advantage and security after it, than
if that method had not been previously taken.
It seems necessary, however, to declare, that nothing which has
been said is meant to relate to practice in the bleeding or purple
small-pox; though very cold repellent methods may perhaps deserve to be
tried in these hitherto fatal cases, provided it can be done early; but
the mercurial evacuating course seems quite improper.
Upon the whole, what has been said on the natural small-pox, must wait
the award of time and experience, the only tests of the utility of any
practice; for I have lived long enough to have seen several instances
where very ingenious and well-meaning men have been greatly mistaken,
by relying too much on the first impressions made by a few successful
experiments.
CONCLUSION.
Before I dismiss the subject, it may not be improper to give some
account of the motives that induced me to adopt this method.
During the course of many years practice of inoculating in the former
usual method, I generally committed to writing the most remarkable
occurrences to have recourse to. Among these, I had recorded some
cases, which proved, that those who had suffered most, were in general
such as have been kept warm, and nursed with the greatest tenderness
and care. These facts disposed me to think of a cooler manner of
treating the disease, and made me attentive to the reports of such a
method having been practised in some parts of this country with great
success, though too extravagant at first to deserve credit.
The reports, however, of this practice still gained ground; and, upon
the strictest inquiry, I found they were for the most part true, and
that such who were treated in this way, passed through the distemper
in a more favourable manner than my own patients, or those of the
most able practitioners in the old method of inoculation; also that
the inoculators in this new way, enjoined a stricter regimen as to
diet, than I had hitherto thought necessary; and that they frequently
brought their uninfected patients into the presence of those who had
the disease, and inoculated them immediately with fluid matter, taken
on the point of a lancet, and by a very slight puncture or incision;
applying no dressing or covering afterwards.
This way of performing the operation pleased me, as far as related to
the slightness of the incision, and the use of fresh matter; for I
had (in common with other inoculators) sometimes failed of infecting,
by using a thread that had been kept too long in a phial: but the
circumstance of bringing the person to be inoculated into the presence
of one who had the small-pox, seemed hazardous, lest there might be an
accumulation of infection.
All doubts, however, were at last removed by the authenticated accounts
that I received of these particulars, and of the good success that
attended the practice; and I began to try it in January 1765; when,
after having directed a strict regimen and some mercurial purges, I
inoculated with fluid matter, proceeding with much circumspection and
attention; my patients being exposed to the open air in that cold
season. The great advantage they received from this treatment was soon
apparent, and more than sufficient to encourage my continuance in the
practice; till repeated experiments induced me to think, that instead
of supposing the fever in the small-pox to be the instrument employed
by nature to subdue and expel the variolous poison, we should rather
consider it as her greatest enemy, which, if not vigorously restrained,
is apt to produce much danger; and that all such means should be used
as are most likely to control its violence, and extinguish the too
great fervor of the blood. Pursuant to this opinion, besides keeping
my patients in the open air, which I had learned from others, I first
directed the mercurial and antimonial medicine, and the laxative course
in the eruptive state; the manner of administering which, and the
success attending, has been already related.
It may perhaps appear singular that bleeding has neither been once
mentioned or directed in the course of this work, though by general
consent it is allowed to be the most efficacious remedy in all
inflammatory cases. To this I can only say, that the regimen and
medicine above prescribed commonly reduce the patients so much as to
render bleeding unnecessary. And in the natural small-pox it seemed
most reasonable to adhere, as strictly as possible, to those measures
which had contributed apparently so much towards passing so easily
through inoculation. I doubt not, however, that cases will arise, in
which bleeding may not only be safe, but extremely salutary.
It will, I hope, be needless to tell the reader, that I have disclosed
the whole of what I know with certainty relative to this process, as
the regimen, medicines, different types of the disease, the rules of
prognostic, and various events, &c. are fully and faithfully related,
according to the best of my judgment and experience. And I believe,
if the method now recommended is carefully pursued, it will be found
to answer with a success at least equal to any yet discovered.
Nevertheless it is reasonable to suppose, that further experience may
produce some improvements: yet when it is considered, how short a
time is required for preparation; how few medicines are to be taken;
that those medicines are neither nauseous in themselves, nor violent
in their operation, and of a kind likely to be beneficial to most
constitutions, and hurtful to none, unless injudiciously administered;
that the disease is usually so mild, as to require little or no
confinement (the complaints of far the greater number being that
they have too little of the distemper); and that the disagreeable
consequences which sometimes happened after the former method of
inoculation are likewise by this most commonly obviated; I do not see
that much alteration can be even wished for. That which appears most
likely to be made, is in shortening the time of preparation; for as I
have often been obliged to inoculate without any, and have always had
the same success, it has inclined me to think, that much, if not the
whole, of this process, may be dispensed with, except in very full
habits, or where other particular circumstances may require it. But in
all these cases, from the insertion of the matter to the time of the
eruptive complaints, the patients have been kept to a close observance
of diet, and the use of the preparatory medicines, proportioned as well
as I could to their condition: for I durst not, by way of experiment,
dispense with the use of measures that had been hitherto so successful.
Should it be asked then, To what particular circumstance the success
is owing? I can only answer, that although the whole process may have
some share in it, in my opinion it consists chiefly in the method
of inoculating with recent fluid matter, and in the management of
the patients at the time of eruption. If these conjectures should be
true, perhaps we should be found to have improved but little upon the
judicious Sydenham’s cool method of treating the disease, and the old
Greek woman’s method of inoculating with fluid matter carried warm in
her servant’s bosom.
CASES.
CASE I.
Nov. 23d. A very strong, fat, middle-aged man was inoculated with fluid
matter, from a person pretty full of the natural small-pox, and near
the crisis.
26th. He came to me, that I might inspect the arm, which then appeared
to be certainly infected, and very forward.
28th. He came to the house, and informed me he had been taken very
ill on the 26th in the evening, and continued so all the next day.
His complaints had been, great pains in his head and back, with
heat, thirst, and restlessness. He was at this time, however, pretty
well; but on inspecting the arms, they appeared much inflamed for
a considerable space round the incision, and the erysipelatous
appearance gradually extended itself over the greatest part of the
arms between the elbow and shoulder. He now complained only of slight
flying pains in his head and limbs, but without the least degree of
fever: after a bad night’s rest several eruptions were discovered on
the hips, and one on the neck. Some of these maturated, others dried
away; and, upon the whole, the procedure was such as would not by any
have been called variolous, if unattended with other circumstances.
CASE II.
Nov. 23d.] A healthy strong man, inoculated at the same time, and from
the same person, with the last, accompanied him also on the 26th, when
the arm of this patient appeared in a very doubtful state respecting
the infection.
On the 28th, when he came to the house, the skin at the incision was
discoloured, felt hard, seemed thickened, did not appear inflamed; nor
did he allow it had itched, or that he had perceived any alteration in
his health.
Things remaining in this state, I inoculated him again on the 30th in
the morning, being the eighth day from the first inoculation. On the
evening of the same day he complained of chilliness, attended with pain
in his head and limbs, and passed an uneasy night. These complaints
lasted in a very moderate degree for two days more, but without the
least appearance of a fever. A very few pimples were discovered
upon the decline of these symptoms, but they soon vanished without
maturating.
CASE III.
Nov. 23d.] A third patient, a young man twenty years of age, was
inoculated with the two last. I had not seen his arm from the time he
was inoculated to the 28th, when he came to the house in company with
the others. He said the incised part had itched very much the first
three or four days, but it now appeared nearly in the same state as the
preceding.
He was also inoculated again on the 30th. But as the succeeding
complaints, and doubtful eruption in this case, bore an exact
resemblance to those of the former, it is needless to repeat them.
Nothing happened to either from the second inoculation.
CASE IV.
1765, May 5th.] A man aged twenty-four was inoculated; after which he
went to visit a relation, till it should be thought proper for him to
come to the house, which I directed him to do on the 11th, if he should
continue well till that time.
He took with him two calomel pills, one of five and the other of ten
grains. He was ordered to take the least on the 8th, the other on the
following night, and an ounce of purging salts the next morning.
I did not see him till the 11th, when he came to the house: he was then
perfectly well, but said he had been a little giddy for the last day or
two, and that his head had ached very much the preceding day for about
an hour, insomuch that he thought he must have come over; that his arm
had itched very much, and the purge had worked very briskly.
Upon examining the arms, both incisions appeared to be considerably
inflamed, and looked just as is usual on the approach of the eruptive
fever, which I had not the least doubt would soon happen.
On the 12th he complained of some pain in the right shoulder, and
under the arm, which he said was stiff, and felt as if it was swelled.
However, he continued perfectly well and free from all complaints
to the 15th; the arms appearing as is usual when the distemper is
attended with very few pustules; that is to say, not quite free from
inflammation, but with a slight one.
The case being not so clear as could be wished, in order to be
thoroughly satisfied, I inoculated him again, taking particular care to
infect the part well.
On the 16th in the morning he took a dose of Inf. Sen. and Manna.
He continued quite well, and no itching or signs of infection appeared
from the last inoculation.
CASE V.
May 3d.] A man of 44 was inoculated. I saw him every day, and it was
easy to perceive that the infection had taken place very early.
On the 7th it appeared so forward, that I ventured to prognosticate he
would have a very early and mild disorder, and no eruption.
On the 8th he complained of a pain in his head and back, and that he
felt a general uneasiness, attended with a loss of appetite, which at
other times was very good. He continued complaining in this manner that
whole day, but on the next found himself pretty well, and continued
so without any other illness. The inflamed appearance on the incision
abated from this time.
His health returned, and he still remains perfectly well.
CASE VI.
A middle-aged man was inoculated at the same time; whose case in every
circumstance so nearly resembled the former, as to render it needless
to enumerate the particulars.
Both were inoculated a second time without any eruption or signs of
infection happening in consequence of it.
CASE VII.
Dec. 5th.] A healthy man of 38 was inoculated. On the 7th he called
on me, when his arm itched very much, and shewed certain marks of the
infection having succeeded.
The inflammatory appearance was then considerably abated, and the
incisions seemed disposed to heal. He felt no uneasiness on the part,
nor had he any illness.
On the 12th and 13th he complained of pains in his head and limbs,
as also of stiffness under his arms, which I esteem one of the most
certain proofs of the infection having taken place. There was no
alteration in the pulse, nor any other sign of a fever; a few pimples
about the neck and arms followed these complaints, yet not such as I
should have esteemed variolous on any other occasion: for some soon
disappeared; and others, which remained long enough to have a little
matter formed in them, proceeded to this state with great irregularity.
He was inoculated again, but without the least effect.
CASE VIII.
A man between 50 and 60 was inoculated about four in the afternoon:
on the morning of the third day after the inoculation I first saw his
arms, when they shewed uncommon signs of infection, being already much
inflamed; and upon inquiry, I received from him the following account:
that on the same evening he was inoculated, he felt an uneasiness
and numbness at and near the place of insertion; and that the day
following, these complaints increased, and spread up to the shoulder
of one arm, which was very stiff and numbed; that the incision had
itched several times, and his arms felt as if he had been bruised by
a blow with a very large stick. And on the preceding evening, which
was the second from the inoculation, his head had been giddy and in
pain, accompanied with some chilly fits; but all these sensations went
off without any other illness. He had rested well, and never thought
himself in better health.
From this time I saw him at different times every day, and he continued
in perfect health; only sometimes, especially towards evening, he said
he felt as if he had drank too much. The arms were much inflamed; but
on the 6th and 7th day they altered their colour to a darker hue, and
the inflammation and hardness were evidently abating. He now desired
to go a journey of about 20 miles on business; and this I consented
to, from an absolute confidence that he was secure from any alarming
attack; having first enjoined him not to go into company where he might
risque spreading the infection; for his breath at this time had that
peculiar offensive smell which accompanies the disease.
He returned the following day, being the 8th, in the afternoon, making
no complaint, but of hunger; yet said his head had ached the preceding
night after his journey. His arms were now rather more inflamed, which
I attributed to the friction they might have in the chaise; but from
this time all complaints of every kind ceased. His arms soon became
quite well; he took his first purge on the following day, a second on
the 11th, and returned home on the 13th from the inoculation, without
having a single eruption of any kind.
It is remarkable in this gentleman’s case, that being so well he did
not chuse to live with those who had the distemper, but continued in
a lodging with his wife, who accompanied him by way of nurse, in full
confidence of having had the small-pox many years since. However, after
they got home, she fell ill, and had the distemper in a very clear but
favourable manner, and doubtless caught it off her husband.
CASE IX.
A young gentleman aged nineteen was inoculated June 2d, 1765.
On the 3d he rode out with a friend in an open chaise, and it being
stormy weather, returned home wet. I called on him next morning, and
found him in bed, complaining that he had rested ill, felt shooting
pains in his head, his throat a little sore, thought himself feverish,
and that he had taken cold the preceding day. All this seemed very
probable; his pulse was too quick, though the heat not considerable,
and he was in a moderate sweat.
He rose about ten, and kept within doors the whole day, complaining of
weariness, slight pain in the head and about the shoulders; also that
the incised parts felt uneasy, and itched.
On the 5th he thought his cold considerably better, and ventured
abroad. His arm appeared certainly infected, and very forward; insomuch
that I suspected he would have no more illness in consequence of the
inoculation.
On the 7th the inflammation on the arm was considerably abated, and the
incision seemed disposed to heal.
Apprehending from these circumstances that nothing more was to be
expected from the operation, he was inoculated again in the evening,
from a person who had the distemper pretty full, though of a distinct
kind, in the natural way.
No marks, however, of infection ensued from this last operation; and he
continued visiting with me many patients in all stages of the disease:
so that it is probable he was then in more danger of infection than he
will ever be again.
CASE X.
Dec. 19.] A healthy florid young man was inoculated in both arms;
and soon after on the same day he felt a disagreeable numbness and
stiffness, beginning at the incision in one arm, and extending as high
up as the shoulder. That night at going to bed he took five grains of
calomel in a pill.
On the 20th the same kind of sensation in the arm remained, extending
also to that side of the head, which was in some pain. These complaints
continued this day and the next. I ordered him to take the same
mercurial pill at going to bed.
22d. Another indifferent night, with the same complaints, and a
stiffness in both shoulders. The pulse appeared to be rather quickened,
but without any such increase of warmth as was sufficient to be called
fever. The incisions were unusually forward.
23d. In the morning I was told he was better, and had taken a ride to
visit his mother at about ten miles distance; also that he had several
pimples, which were believed to be the distemper.
In the afternoon he returned, when I found there were several pustules
out, which had the appearance of being true small-pox; and his arms
were as forward as is usual at the time of eruption. All his complaints
were now gone off, and he seemed quite well.
24th. Gone abroad for his pleasure.
25th. He called on me; and the pustules having advanced properly
towards maturation, I ordered him immediately to the house, where he
remained perfectly well, and the pustules, which were about twenty,
maturated very kindly.
* * * * *
27th. He took a purgative, which operated moderately. On the 28th he
returned home in good health, and has continued so ever since.
CASE XI.
Two men were inoculated at the same time, the one about 40 years of
age, corpulent, and subject to the rheumatism; the other between 50 and
60, very thin and healthy.
I saw both these patients on the third day, when the places of
insertion were in each so very much inflamed, that I was pretty
certain they would scarce have any eruption, and acquainted them with
my opinion. Both made complaints of itching and uneasiness in the
part; there was however this difference, the elder said he had felt a
numbness and smarting from the time of inoculation, particularly the
following night; that his head had been in pain, and that he had had
several chilly fits: the other complained that his arms felt hot, and
itched, but said he was very well. They both came to me on the sixth
day, when the inflammation on the arm of the elder was considerably
abated; and he said that from the time that I saw him last, he had
remained free from any complaint, except a slight uneasiness at the
parts infected. The incisions of the other were still in an inflamed
state; he said that his head had ached, and that he was very chilly the
preceding night: both these symptoms continued for two days more; but
the attacks were irregular, lasted but a very short time, and there was
not the least appearance of fever. The other held perfectly well, and
all signs of inflammation on the arms of both soon disappeared.
They both remained several days in the same house, and kept company
with others in different stages of the disease; the elder of the two
was inoculated again, but without the least signs of the infection
taking place, and both remain in good health.
CASE XII.
A gentlewoman turned of 50, of a corpulent habit and clear complexion,
was inoculated about noon. On the following morning she informed
me that the inoculated parts, and more especially one arm, had
smarted very much, and felt benumbed up to the shoulder, and had been
sufficiently troublesome to disturb her rest: upon inspecting the
parts, they were found much inflamed, and a little elevated. These
kinds of feelings were complained of that whole day, and towards night
her head ached; but she had no increase of heat, or alteration in the
pulse. On the third morning there was a flushing on the skin round the
puncture on each arm, nearly the breadth of a sixpence; on applying
the finger, it felt hard about the middle; and upon the whole, the
appearances of infection were as evident as are usually observable
on the 9th or 10th day. I therefore ventured to assure her, that the
disease would pass over in a very slight manner, and most probably
without any eruption; and the event justified my prognostic.
She complained a little of pain in her head for several evenings, and
the inflammation on her arm increased; but on the 6th day it began to
turn to a yellowish brown, and every inflammatory appearance wore off:
she remained perfectly well, living with those who had the distemper,
and in an infected house, without any illness.
CASE XIII.
_January 9._ A strong healthy man, aged 24 was inoculated. The eruptive
complaints began on the 8th day, ran pretty high, and on the inoculated
parts of each arm he felt very great and unusual pains. On the 10th a
true erysipelatous swelling attacked one arm, and extended from the
shoulder to the elbow; the other was also affected in the like manner,
but not so considerably. In the evening of the same day he complained
of great pain and soreness about his stomach, and at this time the
whole surface of the skin was nearly covered with a rash and petechial
spots of different colours and sizes.
What I distinguish by the name of rash, were pimples much resembling
the confluent pocks, and rising above the skin; the petechial spots
were interspersed, and even with the skin; some of these were small
like flea-bites, others were near as large as a silver penny; some
were of a very dark purple, and others of a livid colour. I observed
them carefully, assisted by a good convex glass, and found the
appearances singular and alarming. But as the fever was not high in
proportion to such appearances, the head and back free from pain, and
no great weakness attended, the event seemed to be the less doubtful.
The patient drank a bason of white wine whey at going to bed, and I
found him pretty well in the morning: the erysipelas began to be less
fiery, and put on a darker hue; a few large distinct pustules of real
small-pox soon discovered themselves, and from this time all went on
very well; the arms indeed were of a livid colour for some time, but
gave the patient no pain or uneasiness, so that he passed through the
whole process perfectly well in every other respect.
CASE XIV.
A healthy young woman 20 years of age, after having taken two of the
preparatory powders, had a slight fever, accompanied with sickness at
stomach, which were followed by an erysipelatous rash; on this account
inoculation was postponed four days, when the rash was totally gone.
On the 7th day from the inoculation she began to have the eruptive
symptoms, which were accompanied with more fever and pain in the head
and back than is usual, also very great sickness and vomiting; these
were succeeded by an universal rash, of the same kind as had happened
before; in this situation she was ordered to keep her room, and the
following medicine was directed:
Take compound powder of crabs claws, one scruple; emetic tartar,
one grain.
This operated moderately by vomit, discharging some bile, and also
twice by stool. The stomach was much relieved, but the rash remained,
and put on so much the appearance of a confluent eruption, that I could
scarce be satisfied it was not so, though I had seen in the same
person but a few days before a smaller degree of the same rash. What
made the case more doubtful was, that the fever still remained pretty
high; and her head and back were not much relieved by this eruption. In
this situation I did not think it adviseable to expose the patient to
the open air, but directed only a saline mixture, with compound powder
of crabs claws, and that she should keep her room, but not her bed.
On the 10th a few distinct pustules were to be distinguished, the rash
began to look fainter, and the whole terminated in a very favourable
distinct eruption, without any particular accident: the skin peeled off
universally, as is not uncommon after a rash.
CASE XV.
A man aged 44, on the sixth day after inoculation, began to complain of
pains in his head and back, and of being frequently very cold. These
lasted with great severity, insomuch that he took the alterative pill,
a purging draught, and kept much in the air till the 9th, when about
ten pustules appeared, and his complaints ceased. These seemed likely
to dry away without maturating, which is not unfrequently the case
where there are very few.
On the 12th he took a purge; his arm remained considerably inflamed;
but as he was very desirous of going to a relation’s house, where he
proposed to be aired, I consented to it.
On the 16th I was told he had been much indisposed since his removal,
and that he wished to see me.
On the 17th I visited him, and found a considerable number of pustules,
to the amount of about 40, in the face, of true small-pox. The account
he gave me was, that he found himself very ill on the evening after his
removal, and that he perceived the pustules the next morning. This was
on the 14th day from the inoculation, and the forwardness they were in
agreed well with his account. His arm continued much inflamed, with
many pustules near the incision.
CASE XVI.
A healthy young man was inoculated December the 6th, 1766. On the 11th
and 12th he was cold and hot alternately, and complained of great pain
in his head, back, and limbs.
The 13th he was much easier, but still felt pains in his head and
back. The inoculated parts, which from the operation till this day I
had no opportunity of seeing, shewed evident signs of infection; but
the skin at the incision was pale, not elevated, nor did a thin fluid
appear under the cuticle, as is usual when the progress of infection is
favourable; neither had he felt much uneasiness about the incisions, or
stiffness in the axilla.
14th. He was free from all complaints; the discolouration on the arm
had spread wider, and two or three pustules were discovered near the
place of insertion.
15th. Many pustules appeared in different parts, about one hundred.
16th. The pustules were properly advanced, and the man seemed to be
perfectly well. But there were now some appearances in the arm which
I was dissatisfied with: for the inoculated part was covered with a
great number of very small pale-coloured confluent pustules; and the
incision, instead of being elevated, was depressed, and of a livid
colour in the middle: this sometimes happens, and denotes an eschar and
ulceration at the conclusion of the disease.
17th. He was seized in the middle of the day with a shivering fit,
succeeded by great heat and pain in the head, back, and limbs, which
continued all the following night. He likewise felt considerable pain
at the incision, and in the shoulder, extending to the axilla.
18th. In the morning he complained of great pain at the incision up
to the shoulder and the axilla of one arm. The pulse was very quick,
and the fever high. In this situation I made no doubt but there would
be a second eruption, and therefore persuaded him to get up and go
into the air, and directed an infusion of senna and manna to be taken
immediately.
This operated four times, and he was considerably relieved of all his
complaints; but fresh pustules now made their appearance on the face
and other parts, to the amount of double the number at least of the
first. From this time he remained quite free from fever, and every
other complaint; the last pustules, as well as the first, maturating
in the most favourable manner. But what is very remarkable, both crops
of pustules ripened nearly about the same time; for the progress of
those which came out first seemed to be retarded by the second eruptive
fever, and the latter pustules advanced quicker than usual.
CASE XVII.
June 2d. Twenty-two persons were inoculated, who lodged at two
neighbouring houses.
On the 4th in the evening one of them, a man aged 30, had a shivering
fit, succeeded by fever, with pain in the head, back, and side, which
continued all night.
5th. In the morning, when I first visited him, the pulse was very
quick, full, and strong, and the former complaints remained; but I
found him walking about the house. On inspecting the incisions, both
were quite well; while those of every one of his associates, which I
saw at the same time, shewed evident marks of infection.
This patient had been very much in the way of infection, and I
suspected that he was going to have the small-pox in the natural way:
I therefore directed the mercurial and antimonial pill to be taken at
night, and that he should go into the air as much as he could bear, but
not go into bed.
6th. In the morning I was informed that he had been sick and vomited,
without having a stool: and that all his complaints remained, though
not quite so violent. I prescribed half an ounce of Glauber’s salt,
and half an ounce of manna, dissolved in water-gruel, to be taken
immediately.
In the afternoon I found him in bed, but was told he had been in the
air, and that the purge had operated four times. He was now disposed
to sweat, and his pains were abated; but the fever remained as before,
with a white dry tongue: he had a troublesome cough, difficult
respiration, and great oppression at his stomach; but there was not the
least sign of infection in the arm.
7th. In the morning he was much in the same state, only weaker. I
prescribed a salt of wormwood mixture, with Mindererus’s spirit, an
oily mixture for his cough, and one grain of emetic tartar mixed with
10 grains of compound powder of crabs claws, to be taken in the evening.
8th. He had four stools in the night, sweated pretty well, and got some
sleep; but he coughed much, breathed with difficulty, expectorated
some thin frothy phlegm, and complained of great pain in his breast
and side. Eight ounces of blood were directed to be taken away; the
antimonial powder was repeated, with an addition of one grain of
calomel; and he was directed to drink frequently a cup-full of pectoral
decoction, to a quart of which was added one ounce and a half of
Mindererus’s spirit.
9th. The blood taken away yesterday was very fizy, the pain in the
breast and side much abated, but the cough very troublesome, and the
expectorated phlegm streaked with blood. The inoculated parts were now
discoloured, shewed evident signs of infection, and that we should
soon have the small-pox to encounter together with the peripneumonic
disorder.
10th. Very restless all the night, coughed much, and with great
difficulty expectorated brown viscid phlegm. The bleeding was repeated,
and the use of the antimonial powder and other medicines continued;
which had every day procured some stools, and supported a constant
breathing sweat.
11th. The blood was still found fizy, and the fever, cough, difficulty
of respiration and of expectoration were increased. The progress of
infection in the arm was slow, but shewed, however, that the eruptive
fever would soon come on; and I was apprehensive that it would be
so confounded with the peripneumonic disorder, as to cause much
perplexity. I determined nevertheless to attempt to relieve the latter
by whatever means I could, and wait the event; and therefore ordered
more blood to be taken, a blistering plaister to be applied between
the shoulders, and a small quantity of gum ammoniacum to be added to
his pectoral medicines. In the evening I was informed that all the
troublesome symptoms were considerably abated.
It must here be noted, that all the company, who had been inoculated
at the same time, were now ill, and most of them had some eruptions.
12th. He had had more rest; but though most of his complaints were
relieved, yet the fever still continued, and he expectorated with
difficulty some very dark-brown phlegm, so that no alteration was made
in his medicines.
The appearance on the incisions spread, but did not look as usual when
the eruptive complaints are begun.
13th. The fever, pain in the side, cough, and difficulty of
expectoration, being again increased, I ordered a vesicatory to the
side, and some oxymel of squills in a pectoral mixture.
14th. The fever and pain of the side were abated, and he had obtained
some little sleep, which was however much disturbed by sudden
startings. The skin at the incisions had an unusual appearance, not
easily to be described; and instead of being inflamed, as it usually
is, where the progress of the infection is favourable, and not
interrupted by some extraordinary accident, it was of a pale hue.
15th. He had rested ill, and the cough was so troublesome, that I
ordered more blood to be taken, and the medicines to be continued. The
incisions this day looked like pustules irregularly shaped, and a fluid
appeared under the cuticle.
16th. All symptoms were more moderate; two pustules were discovered in
the face, and those at the incisions seemed tending to maturation.
17th. All complaints much easier; the pustules at the incisions were
more elevated, and had matter in them; but the others were but little
advanced, and looked pale.
18th. He was in all respects so much better, that he ventured to ride
out on horse-back, and I was released from my attendance; nor did I see
him afterwards till he called at my house in good health on the 5th
of July. But he then informed me, that in the afternoon of the 19th of
June, the day after I took my leave of him, he had been extremely hot
and feverish; was relieved on the 20th from all feverish symptoms, and
discovered a great number of pustules, which rose, filled, and ripened
without any further illness; so that he did not think it necessary to
send me any notice of them. Looking in his face, I saw about thirty
marks of small-pox, which confirmed the truth of his report.
I have also since received a very satisfactory account that many
pustules in his face and other parts which came out after the time I
saw him, stayed a proper time, and maturated completely.
CASE XVIII.
A middle-aged man, on the sixth day after he had been inoculated,
complained of pain in his head and back, and had a slight degree of
fever. These complaints remained till the 8th, when there appeared some
eruptions on the face, which I took to be variolous: but it is to be
noted, that having lived pretty freely, his face was very red and full
of pimples; and neither the preparation nor medicines had much altered
that appearance; so that it was no easy matter to distinguish between
those which were habitual to him, and the fresh ones. The arm at this
time was very considerably inflamed, as is usual about the time of
eruption.
On the 9th he was perfectly well, and no more eruptions shewed
themselves.
Having had several patients, who undoubtedly passed through the
distemper with no more illness than this man had felt, and sometimes
even without any eruption, I really thought that the affair was over.
On the 10th he took a laxative draught, eat a piece of mutton,
and drank some ale. On the afternoon of the same day I found him
complaining of a pain in his head, which he thought was occasioned by
his venturing abroad during the operation of the purge. He had now more
fever than at any other time before; however, as he averred that his
complaints were such as he usually felt from a slight cold, I did not
apprehend any thing more.
On the 11th in the morning he was still much indisposed, and had rested
ill. In the evening of the same day I found him much better, but he
said there were more pustules on his back. These I did not see.
Next morning I found he was gone to a friend’s house, having left word
that he was quite well, and that I should hear from him if there was
occasion.
On the 14th I was desired to visit him, when I found a moderate number
of fresh pustules on the face and limbs, and in such forwardness, that
I was convinced they had been out ever since his removal; which indeed
was confirmed by the account he gave me: these maturated kindly, and he
remains in good health.
CASE XIX.
A gentleman’s son in perfect health, between four and five years of
age, on the third day after inoculation voided a long round worm alive,
after having taken on the preceding night a dose of mercurial physick.
No signs of worms had hitherto been observed in him; and he afterwards
seemed to be quite well, till the symptoms which usually precede the
small-pox came on.
After a very moderate illness, an eruption of about twenty pustules
succeeded, and all complaints then ceased; so that on the 4th day after
the eruption, I proposed, and was permitted, to discontinue my visits
for the present. I called again however on the 6th day, and found him
well as usual, and at play, the pustules being then nearly maturated.
I was informed, however, that in the night of the 4th day, he had been
hot, feverish, and restless; was very well the day following, and hot
again at night, but in a lesser degree; so that this slight illness
did not then give the least alarm. But on the 7th day, early in the
morning, I was called up to visit him as soon as possible, and was
informed that in the beginning of the night he grew extremely hot and
delirious, and soon became stupid, drowsy, and senseless; in which
condition I found him, grating his teeth, with convulsive motions about
the mouth.
The pustules were at this time quite ripe, and looked, as they always
had done, extremely well. His pulse was very quick, though the heat
was now moderate, and the respiration free and easy; but he was so
comatose, as not to be roused, even so much as to open his eyes, by any
disturbance that could be given.
In this alarming situation I desired the assistance of the physician,
who on other occasions had usually attended the family. At our
consultation, which soon followed, it was agreed, that as the
small-pox were very few in number, had always looked well, and were
now completely maturated, the present symptoms must be occasioned by
worms, or some irritating cause in the bowels.
With this view a dose of rhubarb and calomel was immediately prescribed
and exhibited, though we were obliged to open the mouth by force, and
this not without some difficulty. The operation of this medicine was
accelerated by a clyster, and a large fœtid slimy stool, followed by
some smaller liquid ones, was procured that afternoon.
The child, however, seemed to be almost totally insensible during this
time, nor did he yet appear to be in any respect relieved by these
evacuations: blisters therefore were successively applied to the back,
head, and legs, and sinapisms to the feet; leeches were likewise fixed
to the temples, and rhubarb with calomel, after some little interval,
again directed; tin medicines being given between whiles.
By these means, though not till a considerable quantity of slimy and
extremely offensive fæces had been discharged, some signs of amendment
appeared. But the child still remained in some degree comatose till
the fifth day from this attack; after which the progress of amendment
was very quick, and in two or three days he got quite well, and has so
continued.
CASE XX.
In May 1776, I was desired to visit a considerable farmer, aged 68, to
give my advice for a complaint in his legs.
About two years before he had been seized with a numbness and coldness
in both legs and thighs, which it was apprehended would end in a
palsy. For this disorder he took many medicines, and both his legs
were blistered, by which he found relief; but from this time the legs
were affected with troublesome itching and burning pains, attended
with a sharp serous discharge through innumerable excoriations. These
complaints destroyed his rest, and made him unhappy.
After relating this case, he told me, that as almost every body in
the neighbourhood, who had not had the small-pox, was either under
inoculation or preparing for it, he could scarcely expect to escape the
infection, and had therefore a strong desire to be inoculated; and that
his wife of the same age with himself, was likewise desirous of it.
This proposal induced me to examine the present condition of his legs
more strictly. They were now, he said, in their best state; that is,
not so full of pain as usual; they were dry and scurfy. His face was
likewise scurfy, and of a settled deep red colour; the consequence, as
he told me, of a repeated Erysipelas in it, and not of any intemperance.
Upon considering the case, and reflecting that the preparatory course
of diet and medicine would probably amend the condition of his legs, I
encouraged him to pursue his intention; and both he and his wife, after
a fortnight’s preparation, were inoculated on the third of June.
On the 9th both made some slight complaints; and on the 12th the wife
grew better, on the appearance of a very few distinct pustules, which
maturated afterwards in the most favourable manner. But the man still
complained of pain and weariness till the 13th, when he grew easier in
that respect, and felt a smarting pain in his legs, which were very
red, and had several pustules on them. Towards evening they grew more
painful, more swelled, and a further eruption was discernable, though
not easy to be distinguished, by reason of their diseased state.
He slept very little this night; but on the 14th I found him free from
fever, and pretty well in all respects, except the pain in his legs;
on which, and under the hams, a great number of distinct, but almost
coherent pustules appeared. There were several also in the neck and
face, but very few on the body or arms. He had all along been advised
not to stir much, but had taken greater liberties of walking about than
I had allowed.
15th. He had not slept a minute during the night. I found him up and
walking about the house, complaining much of pain, but saying that in
other respects he was well; but he was now rather cool than warm, his
pulse very low, his aspect languid, the colour of the face inclined to
livid and pale, and he complained of faintness and sickness. I could
not avoid being alarmed. The legs also were swelled considerably, but
not inflamed. I therefore ordered him instantly to bed; and as the
tension was great, applied a cataplasm of bread and milk (being what
was nearest at hand) all over each leg, and directed the following
medicine to be taken as soon as possible.
℞ Mithrid. Ʒss. Decoct. Cort. Peruv. ℥ij. Tinct. Cort. Peruv.
simpl. Ʒij. M. f. haust. quam primum sumend. & sexta quaque hora
repetendus.
℞ Sal. Absinth. Ʒj. succ. Limon. ℥jss. Decoct. Cort. Per. ℥vi.
Tinct. Cort. Per. simpl. ℥jss. Syr. é Cort. Aur. ℥ss. M. f.
mixtura, cujus capiat Coch. iv. horis intermediis.
In the evening his pulse was raised, he was easier, and rested about an
hour.
16th. In the morning, after he had rested some hours in the night, he
was easier, warmer, and the pulse better.
17th. After a good night he found himself free from complaints, and
from this time every circumstance went on favourably; the pocks
maturated on the 7th day; his legs however were both considerably
ulcerated for a fortnight after, but then soon healed. He remains at
present in good health, and feels less uneasiness from his legs than he
did before the inoculation.
CASE XXI.
A middle-aged woman was inoculated, May 15, 1765. She began to complain
on the 23d; the fever and other symptoms were very moderate. On the
26th an eruption, distinct in kind, small in number, shewed itself; all
the eruptive symptoms ceased, and she seemed perfectly well.
On the 29th she complained that her throat was sore, felt stiff, and
swelled; but as this is not unusual, little regard was paid to it.
30th. She rested ill, her throat was worse, and it now gave her
great pain to swallow. She had also been taken with a shivering fit,
succeeded by fever. On inspecting the throat I could not perceive
one pustule there, but the uvula and tonsils were very much swelled
and inflamed. An acidulated gargle was directed, and a lenitive
purge, which in the evening had operated thrice; the gargle had
been frequently used, but the difficulty of swallowing was greatly
increased, insomuch that she could get nothing down; the fever too
was rather increased. Further help could not now be expected from
internals; for upon making the trial, liquids returned through the
nose. I directed a blister to be applied to the throat, and that she
should frequently gargle with warm pectoral drink.
31st. She had not slept a minute, being disturbed, whenever she
attempted it, with such sudden startings as made her afraid to sleep.
The feverish heat was not very great, the pulse extremely quick, and
all the liquids she attempted to swallow still came through the nose.
She could not lie down in bed, and therefore sat up in an easy chair
the greatest part of the night.
The pustules, which in the face did not exceed twenty, and very few
appeared elsewhere, advanced to maturation kindly, without receiving
the least check from this adventitious illness. Her speech was so much
affected as scarce to be understood. She informed me, however, that she
was subject to an illness of this kind; and had once narrowly escaped
with her life, but had never been so bad before. I directed twelve
ounces of blood to be taken from the arm, and that the sublingual veins
should be pricked. But no relief seemed to be derived from any of these
measures; and upon inspecting the throat again, the glands, uvula, and
fauces were very much inflamed and distended. The tonsils were then
lanced pretty deep, and a good deal of blood being discharged, the
swelling of the parts subsided, so as to admit her to swallow, though
with difficulty, a little pectoral drink, and afterwards few spoonfuls
of milk pottage.
June 1st. She had rested but very little, though exceeding drowsy, and
worn out for want of sleep; for the sudden startings, upon closing
her eyes, still remained, though not in so great a degree as the
preceding night; but she had swallowed some liquids, though with great
difficulty. The feverish heat was not very great, the pulse quick and
more feeble.
On inspecting the throat towards noon, the swelling, though somewhat
abated, was still considerable enough to prevent much being swallowed.
In this dangerous situation the operation that had administered some
relief was repeated, and other parts of the tonsils and fauces, which
had not been wounded before, were now lanced pretty deep; a large
quantity of blood was discharged, the parts collapsed, and in less
than an hour she was able to swallow liquids; after which she got
some refreshing sleep, recovered fast, and is now in good health.
The pustules, notwithstanding this illness, advanced very kindly to
maturation, and turned on the 7th day from the eruption.
CASE XXII.
A healthy middle-aged man, rather of a corpulent habit, was inoculated,
had a slight cold fit (on the 5th day inclusive after the operation)
which lasted but a very short time, and was not succeeded by either
fever or complaint of any kind.
His arms at that time shewed certain signs of the infection having
succeeded, which continued advancing to the 9th day, when the
inflammations about the incisions appeared considerably spread, and
were surrounded with confluent clusters of very small pustules. In
other respects he was perfectly well, and felt not the least stiffness
or pain in the axilla, or elsewhere; insomuch that he began to be
uneasy least he should have no appearance of small-pox.
On the 10th several small pimples were to be seen on the forehead,
which I should have thought small-pox, if he had not at this time
been quite well, brisk, and hearty, without having felt any previous
complaint.
On the 11th in the morning many more were to be seen on the face,
limbs, and body, so that he might be said to be very full. I now
examined him again very strictly, and could not find that he had been
in the least ill; and on inquiring how he had slept, he answered,
Never better; for he went to bed about ten, and did not wake till near
seven in the morning. The eruption, on a close inspection, had such
an appearance as would have made me pronounce it the small-pox of an
unfavourable kind, if it had been preceded or attended by any feverish
or other complaints; but I must confess, that even at this time I
supposed it was only an inoffensive rash, as the patient was then, and
had been, intirely free from any complaint.
All this day he continued perfectly well, had walked out of his own
accord into the fields, and in the evening asserted that he never
had been easier or better in all his life; though, as he confessed to
me afterwards, he had been in some company where he smoked his pipe,
and drank his share of a quart of ale. Still the pustules remained,
and increased in number, though not in size; and nothing but the
consideration of his having had none of the complaints which usually
precede even the slightest kind of small-pox, kept me in any doubt
whether they were the small-pox or not.
The next morning, being the 12th, the attending nurse told me that he
had passed a very restless night, with much complaint of pain in his
head and back; and I found him very uneasy, with great heat, a quick
pulse, and very full of a small sort of small-pox indisputably.
These complaints coming on at this unusual time made me apprehensive of
the consequences. I gave him directly calom. gr. iij. tart. emet. gr.
1/8, and advised him to get up and go into the air, but not to fatigue
himself too much. I also directed that after two hours he should take
a purging draught. [It is to be observed that he had had stools every
day regularly; and remaining perfectly well, had taken no medicine for
some time.] I called on him again about two, and found him walking
about the house, when he said he was better, for that the physick had
worked him five times very sufficiently, and each time he had been
abroad to the privy, though it rained pretty smartly.
I saw him again in the evening, and then he made but little complaint
of pain in either head or back; but was almost incessantly seized with
a short tickling cough, and complained of his throat being sore. He
then took another pill of the same kind as that in the morning.
Early the next day, the 13th, the nurse informed me that he had
been very restless the whole night; had put on his cloaths and came
down stairs, but was now gone into bed again, in hopes of getting a
little rest. On going into his room I found him almost dressed again,
complaining that he had an almost constant irritation in the throat,
and finding it impossible to get any sleep, was therefore coming down
stairs. I enjoined him, however, to keep within doors.
About one I saw him again; he had had two stools, and was better. His
cough remained somewhat troublesome, and his throat grew sore.
In the evening I found him in good spirits, with a regular quiet pulse,
and he had one more purging stool. I ordered another pill of the same
kind to be taken at going to bed, and a bason of small white wine whey
after it; also an oily mixture to be taken occasionally, to relieve his
cough and the tickling sensation in the throat.
The 14th in the morning he had some comfortable rest, and felt himself
refreshed; his cough had been much better, so that he had taken but
once of the oily mixture. This day he had three stools from his pill;
and the small-pox had advanced in an unexpectedly kind manner.
From this time nothing material happened; the cough left him, and his
throat gave him no trouble.
The pustules filled with good matter in a shorter time than I ever saw
such a number of so small a sort, and many were brown on the 17th day,
being the 7th from the first appearance.
On the 19th he took a purge, and was perfectly well.
To these cases many others of a similar nature might be added. But by
several unforeseen delays, not in my power to prevent, I have been
obliged to trespass so much already on the patience of those who wished
to see some account of this practice, that I shall only mention a few,
which, by a partial or untrue relation, might possibly be construed to
the disadvantage of inoculation; though when the particular facts are
candidly exhibited, every just occasion of prejudice will undoubtedly
be removed.
During the autumn of the last year the chin-cough was epidemick at
Hertford; and as the winter approached, the small-pox also broke out in
many places; and almost every child, who before had the chin-cough,
and was seized with the natural small-pox, died of a confluent kind.
This calamity fell severely among the poor of this place, many of
whom earnestly entreated me to inoculate their families; but this was
scarcely possible, unless some necessary provision could be obtained
for them from the parishes to which they belonged; I therefore
acquainted the clergymen of the respective parishes, that if proper
care was taken that necessaries were not wanting, I would freely
inoculate and attend all such as I thought were proper subjects.
Both the gentlemen approved the design; but after a short consultation
with their parishioners, the affair was put off, the parish officers
alledging that they could not provide proper places.
That such a design had been in agitation soon became known, and a
number of poor people were continually soliciting me to inoculate them
and their children at all events, promising to provide for themselves
to the utmost of their power. Some had the disease already in their
families. It was so much in the neighbourhood of others, that they
were in daily fear of taking the infection, and their distress on this
occasion was great. Women with children at their breasts, in want of
all necessaries, yet solicitous for the safety of their offspring,
pressed me to inoculate them and their children with an importunity
not to be described. I acquainted them with the danger attending the
infant state; but reasons availing nothing, I yielded to inoculate all
who had not the chin-cough, or any other dangerous illness, though
against my opinion and inclination, almost against my determined
resolution. Amongst a very great number of such subjects of all ages
and constitutions, and where some might reasonably be presumed to have
taken the infection in the natural way, I expected some disagreeable
events would happen; but the probability of saving the lives of many
preponderated. The following however are the only cases that border on
the unfortunate; and the reader will, if skilful and candid, easily
place them to the right account.
A mother and three children (one of them at the breast) were
inoculated. The children had then the chin-cough; but this was
carefully concealed from me, as I had refused all under such
circumstances. The youngest, of about five months old, had only five
or six pustules in the face, and not more elsewhere proportionably.
She lived past the crisis; but the cough remained violent, and she was
much enfeebled, and died as children do who perish by the chin-cough,
and without any one circumstance of danger that could be supposed to
proceed from inoculation.
Another weakly child, about five months old, I had persuaded the
mother to wean, in order that she herself might be inoculated. During
the preparation this woman fell ill of a fever, as supposed; but on
visiting her, I found the confluent small-pox appearing, and that
the child had lain with her constantly. I was earnestly solicited to
inoculate this infant, in order to give it a better chance, which
with great reluctance I yielded to; it had a very small number of
distinct pustules, and passed through the disease safely; but not being
reconciled to any food but the breast, it died soon after, languishing
for want of proper sustenance.
Another unfortunate subject was also a child at the breast, one
of eight children, who with the father and mother were inoculated
together. On the third day from the inoculation this child was seized
with a fever, which, from the symptoms, I suspected arose from worms. I
gave it a grain of calomel; a large worm was voided the next day, and
the child was seemingly better; but the fever returned at night, and
continued without remission in such a manner as to be very dangerous
in itself, and prevented any distinction of the eruptive symptoms: at
length a confluent kind appeared, though the number was not great; the
bad symptoms were not alleviated by the eruption, and the child died
early in the disease.
All these cases happened since the introduction and first chapter were
written; and have confirmed my opinion, that it is better, both on
account of the subject and the reputation of the practice, to defer
inoculating children till they are about two years old.
It seems not improper likewise to mention the following case; which,
if the whole truth is not related, may possibly afford matter of cavil
against inoculation.
A short, thick-set, middle-aged man was seized with the usual symptoms
on the eighth day after inoculation. The eruption was favourable, the
crop moderate, the pustules large and distinct, and no peculiar care
was either required or observed. The pock maturated in seven days;
after which he took two purges, and had fixed the day for his return to
London.
Two days before his intended journey I found him in the morning sitting
by the fire, with his hand upon his head. Upon inquiring the reason, he
answered, My head feels very queer to-day: a person in company added,
that he had made too free with mutton the day before: but this he
denied. He did not however seem much indisposed; he had taken a purge,
and I expected he would be relieved by its operation.
Next morning he told me he had had a good night’s sleep, and was
perfectly well; nevertheless, two hours after he fell down suddenly in
a fit, and senseless. In this condition I found him about six in the
evening, and so he continued till the night of the following day, when
he expired, perfectly apoplectic, in spite of every means we could
attempt for his relief.
CASES of the natural Small-pox, treated in the preceding Method.
CASE XXIII.
One morning about ten I was desired to visit a poor man in a fever.
Two days before, in the evening, he had been seized with a shivering
fit, which was then supposed to be the ague; he soon grew extremely
hot, with pain in his head, back, and loins, which continued till I saw
him, the 24th of October: he had kept his bed, had scarce any sleep,
his heat great, pulse strong and quick, and the pain in his loins very
severe. This man had applied to me to be inoculated a little before
he was taken ill, on account of the small-pox being very much in his
neighbourhood; but he had not as yet taken any preparatory steps. I
made no doubt but he was now attacked with this disease, and from the
severity of the symptoms expected it would prove of the confluent kind.
As he lived near me, and I could easily attend to every circumstance,
I determined to try how far the cooling method might be beneficial in
treating the natural small-pox.
I found it very difficult to persuade him to rise out of bed, as he
thought himself utterly unable to support himself, notwithstanding
he was on other occasions a resolute man. Assuring him however that
I would not attend him, unless he would comply, he promised to use
his utmost endeavours. I left him to put this advice in practice, and
ordered him to a carpenter’s yard about one hundred yards distance,
where I promised to meet him.
In about a quarter of an hour I found he had reached the place of
appointment, by the assistance of a neighbour, and was sitting on a
bench, complaining of great weakness, and pain in his loins; which he
described, by saying he felt as if he was cutting in two; but allowed
that his head was easier since he had been in the air. Finding that he
had had a stool the preceding day, but none since, I gave him a pill,
containing about six grains of calom. and 1/8 gr. of emet. tartar,
immediately; and as he complained of great thirst, I permitted him to
drink half a pint of cold water after it. I advised him not to sit,
but to endeavour to walk about a little, though ever so slowly; this
he attempted, but went almost double. At this time the weather was not
very cold, but there was a pretty brisk wind, with small rain.
About a quarter of an hour after, I saw him again. He had resolutely
persisted in following my directions, and said his head was greatly
relieved, but the pain in his back and loins was much the same. His
pulse was now much altered; instead of being full and strong as before,
it was low, but quick, and the heat on the skin greatly abated. As he
seemed much fatigued, I did not insist on his keeping abroad longer,
but permitted him to go home, desiring him to refresh himself, but not
to pull off his cloaths, or go into bed.
At two o’clock I saw him again; his pill had then worked twice;
he seemed fatigued and faint, but was abroad, for he said the air
refreshed him, and his head was easier in the air than within, so that
as soon as he was a little rested he came out by choice. The pain in
his loins still remained very grievous, but his head was much easier;
and his back and loins became less painful towards evening. I allowed
him to go to bed about seven; but being desirous of observing the full
effect of this kind of treatment, I ordered no medicine.
25th. Had but little rest, and his complaints nearly the same as when
he went to bed. His pulse was now raised, and more full than in the
evening, and the degree of heat greater than over night. A few small
pustules were now beginning to shew themselves on his face; I directed
a purging draught of infusion of sena and manna, quickened with jalap;
advised him to get out of bed, and venture again into the air. This
he did: by two o’clock the purge had worked thrice, and he was freer
from the pain in his back and loins: more pustules now appeared in the
face, but scarce any on the limbs. He had hitherto taken nothing since
his first seizure, but tea with milk, sage and balm tea, loathing all
other nourishment. He persisted in keeping out the greatest part of the
afternoon; and at seven went to bed, when I found the pulse more calm
and regular, and as his complaints were less violent, he began to think
of nourishment.
26th. I saw him at seven in the morning; he had slept but little, had
one purging stool in the night, and felt himself low and languid; his
pulse was now even, full, and regular, and his heat moderate. Many more
pustules were out in the face, though but few on the limbs, and his
complaints of pain in the head and back went off. He took milk pottage
with some appetite, and spent the greatest part of the day abroad.
At three in the afternoon I saw him, and was told, that lying down in
the bed he had fallen asleep, and waked almost choked with blood; that
he had vomited up a considerable quantity, which doubtless had been
swallowed, as he was found bleeding at the nose. From what I could
learn, the whole scarcely exceeded six or eight ounces. He complained
of faintness, and said his pains were removed. I ordered him to drink
the pectoral decoction, acidulated with a mixture of equal quantities
of sweet and weak spirit of vitriol. The number of pustules continued
increasing slowly on the face and other parts.
Late in the evening I saw him again; two more purging stools had
followed; he complained of being very faint and low, and feared he
should have no rest.
I now thought it proper to give him an anodyne cordial, and therefore
ordered mithrid. [ounce]ss. which he took immediately. By the help
of this he passed a very refreshing comfortable night, and thought
himself quite well. The eruption was now completed; the small-pox might
be properly called distinct: though full in the face, he had only a
moderate number of a large sort on all the other parts; and he went
through the succeeding stages without any difficulty.
CASE XXIV.
A young woman, who was servant in a house where a child had the
small-pox in the natural way, determined to stay there and take her
chance.
December 25th, 1765, I was desired to see her. She had been taken with
a cold fit the preceding afternoon, which was succeeded by a fever, and
the usual symptoms attending the eruption, but in a severe manner. I
found her in bed, making great complaints of pain in her head, back,
and loins; her pulse strong, quick, and full; a flushing red colour in
the face, and the fever very high.
With much difficulty I prevailed upon her to get up; ordered her to
drink some cold water, and go abroad into the air, though it was a
very frosty morning, with sleet. At one o’clock I called again, and
found her then below stairs walking about. The heat was much abated,
her complexion pale, the pulse small and quick, and all her complaints
considerably abated.
The account I received from her, and the persons who attended her, was,
that upon first going into the air, she was so feeble, that the nurse,
and another to assist, could scarce support her, and it was with much
difficulty that she could walk with this assistance; that she drank a
glass of cold water from the pump, and before she had been abroad many
minutes found herself much easier, and had remained so ever since. It
now rained pretty hard, which had obliged her to come in; but she said
if her complaints returned, she would certainly go out again, be the
weather ever so bad, and in this resolution I encouraged her.
On the 26th, about eleven in the morning, I visited her again, found
she had passed a pretty good night, and had felt no remarkable
uneasiness; she had been abroad several times the preceding day, to
which she imputed the ease she enjoyed. Two pustules of a distinct kind
were now out on the face, and she had the disease in a very favourable
manner, without the least bad symptom during the progress, or any ill
consequence afterwards.
CASE XXV.
Jan. 3d, 1766.] A healthy young man was inoculated in company with
four of his neighbours. On the sixth, presuming that none of them
would be ill, I went to London on business. Returning on the 7th in
the afternoon, I was met by a servant, who informed me that this man
had been taken ill on the 5th in the afternoon, had continued very bad
ever since, and now had something broke out, which was suspected to be
the small-pox, and that I was desired to visit him immediately: this I
complied with, and found him in bed, complaining much of pain in his
head, back, and loins, with great heat. Some small pustules were out on
his face, which I perceived to be the small-pox; this was at five in
the evening, and much about forty-eight hours from the first seizure.
The weather was at this time exceeding cold, and it froze very hard.
I ordered him out of bed immediately, to drink a glass of cold water,
and to get some assistance, and walk abroad in the air. Upon inquiry
I found he had passed without a stool the whole day. Five grains of
calomel in a pill were ordered to be taken immediately. He rested but
little this night, and next morning a great many more pustules were out
in the face, sufficient to shew a disposition to flux. As this pill
produced no manifest effect, I ordered sal. glaub. [dram]vi. dissolved
in water gruel to be taken immediately. The vehemence of the fever and
other symptoms were scarcely moderated by this eruption.
Notwithstanding the medicine and the severity of the weather, I desired
he would get on his cloaths, and go into the air as much as he could
possibly bear; and in the evening ordered him to be carried in a chaise
to the house provided for him in case he had been ill from inoculation.
I examined the incisions carefully, but there were not the least signs
of the infection having succeeded, either by discolouration, hardness,
or any alteration on the skin, nor could he recollect that they had
itched, or given him the least uneasiness.
In the evening he came to the house as ordered, but was so very feeble
and full of complaints, that it was with great difficulty he was got to
his room. Upon inquiry I found he had vomited up the salts soon after
taking them, and had only one costive stool; he had complied with my
orders about getting into the air several times in the day, though
with great difficulty. His complaints of thirst, pain in the head and
back, were at this time very great. I directed him to sit with his feet
in warm water for a short time, and, on going into bed, to take a few
spoonfuls of a laxative mixture, which was to be repeated till he had
stools.
9th. He had been delirious in the night, but rested a little towards
the morning; the number of pustules was now considerably increased.
This day he had three stools from his purging mixture, by which he was
relieved, and bore sitting up better.
10th. He passed the night easy, but without sleep. He was very
full in the face, but had a smaller number on the body and limbs.
No complaint, deserving notice, happened during the progress to
maturation. He sat up a part of every day to the eighth from the
eruption, when, being blind, and very sore, he kept in bed: they turned
on the eleventh, and he recovered perfectly.
It was remarkable in this case, that the inoculated parts never shewed
the least signs of infection; nor did a greater number of pustules
appear near them than might have been expected if nothing had been
done; nor is there to be seen the least mark where the inoculation was
performed, though in all other inoculated patients who have had the
disease, even in the slightest manner, there constantly remains a scar.
It appeared, on inquiry, that this man had been, for a considerable
time before, in a constant intercourse with families in the small-pox;
and there seems not to be the least doubt but his was the natural
disease.
CASE XXVI.
A young woman was seized with a fever, and the usual symptoms. The next
day an eruption appeared, which gave some suspicion of the small-pox:
on the third day more spots were discovered, but she was not relieved.
The disorder was now supposed to be an inflammatory fever, attended
with a rash; and as she was extremely delirious, a blister had been
applied about two hours before I first saw her. The face was extremely
full of very small pustules, which indeed were the small-pox, and there
was a considerable number on the neck and limbs; but notwithstanding
this eruption, the fever was very high, and the degree of heat so
excessive, that I scarce ever felt a person hotter; she was so far
sensible as to complain of great pain in her head, stomach, and loins,
though very delirious and extremely restless. She was at an inn much
used by carriers, and it was highly improper she should remain there.
In her present situation I was sensible it might appear very hazardous
to move her; but it was evident that the small-pox would be confluent.
I judged from the violence of the symptoms the disease would be
dangerous, and the event doubtful, and was therefore desirous of trying
how far the same method and remedies, which were used so successfully
in the inoculated small-pox, as well as in some cases of the natural
disease, would avail in this. The necessity of removing the patient
afforded me a good opportunity, without any imputation of rashness. I
therefore proposed her being taken down stairs into a parlour under
the room where she then lay, while I was present, and ready to assist,
if the fatigue should be too much for her; this was consented to; the
women assisted in getting her cloaths on, which she seemed much pleased
with, being then delirious. She was altogether unable to stand, and
was therefore brought down by three persons in the same manner as if
she had been dead. She was then placed in a chair, but had not even
strength to hold herself upright, but was supported in that posture by
the women about her.
The fatigue of moving, and change of posture, occasioned a faintness,
in which she lost all colour, and the pustules for a time disappeared;
upon this, the chair was leaned quite back, the bed was brought down,
and laid on the floor, she was placed on it with her cloaths on, and
eagerly drank a glass of cold water. Her colour soon returned; the
pustules appeared as before; but she was considerably cooled, and her
pulse, though it retained the quickness, was not near so strong. I
stayed with her about half an hour, during which time she was more
sensible, and not so restless, but seemed languid and tired. I ordered
the window to be opened, the room to be kept cool, and gave her three
grains of calomel, tart. emet. gr. 1/8, in a pill, and directed a
purging draught to be taken as soon as it could be procured, and as
there seemed no occasion for the blister, it was taken off.
I saw her next morning at a house to which she had been removed at a
small distance, and found her almost free from complaints; she had
rested moderately well, and was perfectly sensible. Those about her
dated her amendment from the time when the purge (which had procured
three stools) began to operate.
She was however extremely full all over of a very small confluent kind;
yet these inflamed and maturated in a very favourable manner. From
the minutest observation I could make, it seemed to me that by this
management the number in the face was less than when I first saw her,
consequently that some pustules were repressed after they had appeared.
CASE XXVII.
In the beginning of June 1766, a young woman was taken with a shivering
fit, succeeded by a fever, and the symptoms that usually precede
the small-pox, in a very violent degree: these were attended with
such general weakness, that in a few hours after the seizure she was
obliged to go to bed, where she soon became delirious, and afterwards
insensible, her urine passing involuntarily; in this condition I
first saw her about forty hours after she was taken ill. The heat was
excessive, her pulse extremely quick, but not strong, and a few small
eruptions appeared on the face, sufficient to ascertain the distemper.
Upon raising her up she did not make the least effort to support
herself, and therefore was permitted to lie down, and as the room was
small, the window was set open. Five grs. of calomel were with great
difficulty got down; and an infusion of sena and manna being prepared,
the person attending was desired to give a little and often, till she
had a stool.
It was very improper that she should remain in the house where she was,
on account of the family; yet there was no possibility of moving her
in her present condition. Next morning I was informed she had remained
in the same stupid way the whole night, but was now rather better, and
had spoke more sensibly, had two stools, and vomited up some bilious
matter. The heat was still great, the pulse quick, and many small
confluent pustules were out on the face and other parts: this was the
third day of her illness. I advised her being got out of bed, and the
windows to be kept open; but was in doubt whether she had strength
enough to be taken into the open air.
In the evening the eruption was increased considerably in number; and
she was so much eased of her complaints, as to bear being removed in a
cart to a house in the neighbourhood, where I gave her calomel three
grains, emetic tartar one eighth of a grain.
She had some rest this night, but the fever continued; and not having
had any more stools, she was ordered to take a laxative potion of inf.
of sena and manna. She had three stools before evening, and all her
complaints abated. She was very full all over of a very confluent kind.
This young woman sat up the greatest part of several days after she
was quite blind, by her own choice; and I do not recollect ever seeing
one with so large a crop of pustules, who went through the disease
so easily; for she made no complaint but of soreness, nor took any
medicine but a few drops of thebaic tincture at bed-time, towards the
crisis.
CASE XXVIII.
A poor man about 35 years of age, who had gone through the preparatory
course, came to my house in company with several more, in order to be
inoculated. As soon as he came into the room, I perceived he was ill,
and on inquiring he told me, that about two hours before he had been
taken with a fit of the ague, and that his head, back, and loins were
in great pain. Feeling his pulse, I found a good deal of fever, his
skin was also very hot. I knew the small-pox was in his neighbourhood;
and thence concluded he was seized with this distemper. I advised him
to keep abroad in the air as much as possible, and directed a pill
of the kind already mentioned at night, and a purging draught the
following morning.
These operated four or five times, and he persisted in obeying my
orders; the fever and other complaints were not so high as to give any
great alarm; he had a pretty large number of a distinct pock, and went
through the distemper very well.
CASE XXIX.
About three in the afternoon I visited a middle-aged man, who after
two days illness had an eruption, which the neighbours suspected to
be the small-pox; I found him in bed, very hot, and in a sweat; his
pulse quick, full, and strong; his face pretty full of small-pox,
which had begun to appear in the morning. I received the usual account
of the preceding symptoms, which had been pretty severe, and he
still made great complaints of pains in his head, back, and loins;
I immediately gave him a pill, containing cal. gr. v. tart. emet.
gr. 1/8, which I had taken with me upon a presumption that I might
want it: I also insisted on his getting up, and going abroad into the
air, notwithstanding the sweat he was in, which it was my intention
to restrain. I met with the usual difficulty in getting this advice
complied with; however he was assisted, came down stairs, and went
abroad, being supported by his wife; for he seemed very weak, and had
not been out of his bed for two days before. As he complained of great
thirst, I gave him a glass of cold water, and stayed about half an
hour to see the effect of this treatment; he was at first very faint
and sick, and vomited up some bilious matter, but not the pill he had
lately taken; after this, while I stayed he said his head was better,
and allowed he was refreshed by the air. I desired him to continue
abroad as much as he could, and when he found himself tired, to go in
and lie down a little; but as soon as he was able, to get out again,
and if thirsty, to drink as much cold water as he pleased. I then took
my leave, ordering a purging draught to be taken as soon as he received
it, which I concluded would be at least three or four hours from that
time.
Next morning, on visiting him, I was told that the purge had operated
four times, that he found himself considerably relieved, both in his
head and back, and had rested better than any time since he had been
taken ill. The eruption proceeded slowly; but many more pustules now
appeared in his face, and other parts, than before; he kept abroad,
and his complaints continued wearing off. Next morning I found him
quite easy; he was pretty full of a distinct pock, and from this time
all went on well, without having occasion to take any more medicines.
POSTSCRIPT.
Many instances might be produced of unjust charges against Inoculation,
alledged by those who have opposed the practice: but I should not at
this time, and in this country, where the prejudices are pretty well
removed, publish any case of the following kind, if the inadvertence of
a translator had not made it necessary, in defence of my own character.
Dr. Baylies, an ingenious and learned English physician, had been
called from Dresden to Berlin, in 1774, to inoculate some families
of persons of condition; and the King of Prussia so far approved the
practice, as to appoint him his physician.
After the most perfect success with several patients, a child who had
been inoculated by him, was, about two months after, seized with
a distemper which proved mortal, and the physicians who attended,
asserted that the child died of the small-pox.
In vindication of his own character, and the practice of Inoculation,
Dr. Baylies had the case of this child stated, and copies of it were
transmitted to Dr. Watson, Dr. Archer, and myself, requesting our
separate opinions.[7]
[7] Our opinions were essentially the same, but I neither thought it
right to take the liberty, nor would it be of any importance to the
matter in question to insert those of the other gentlemen.
The ungenerous treatment Dr. Baylies met with in this, and other
respects, induced him to publish a tract on the occasion, in French, in
which our opinions were inserted; and he was so obliging as to send me
one of them.[8]
[8] Memoire concernant l’etat de l’Inoculation de la petite Verole à
Berlin, &c.--A Dresde 1776.
I was greatly surprized to find what I had written, so erroneously
translated, as to misrepresent my meaning in a most essential point.
I therefore wrote to Dr. Baylies, and complained of the injury,
requesting that he would endeavour to do me justice, in the manner he
thought most effectual.
Notwithstanding this was generously complied with by Dr. Baylies, as
far as he was able, I have reason to think, that some of the first
copies are dispersed, and remain uncorrected; which I hope will be
deemed a sufficient reason for publishing the following correspondence.
CASE.
Augustus de Blumenthal, a healthy child, five years old, on the 21st
of November 1774, was inoculated with matter taken from an inoculated
patient, who was loaded with the small-pox, and is greatly marked by
it. On the 11th and succeeding days from the operation, the fever and
eruptions regularly followed. The pustules appeared on different parts
over his whole body, were more numerous than they generally are from
inoculation, and maturated, dried, and fell off as they ought to do,
and as well as those of his brothers and sister, who were inoculated
at the same time, and treated in the same manner from the beginning
of the fever, till the disease was over. He was then repeatedly
purged, as is usual in such cases, and continued well for above six
weeks afterwards; making no complaints till the last day of January
1775, when, while he was at dinner, he complained of being cold, yet
afterwards amused himself at play with his companions, and in the
evening said that his legs were very weak.
Wednesday the 1st of February, and 2d day of the illness, he arose in
good humour, at noon he eat with appetite, but less so at night: during
the whole day, at times, he complained more or less of weakness and
uneasiness in his legs, sometimes walked about, and sometimes lay down
on the sopha, and the succeeding night was restless and uneasy.
Thursday the 2d day of the month, and 3d of the disease, a physician
was called, who, finding his pulse agitated, gave it as his opinion,
that there was something mixed in his blood which ought not to be
there, though he could not say what; and in the evening, to allay the
agitation, prescribed him some powders.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the 4th, 5th, and 6th of the month, and
5th, 6th, and 7th of the illness, he shewed great lowness and dejection
of spirits, had great weakness in his legs, complained of giddiness,
and was embarrassed in his head; yet nevertheless, he had some, though
but little, stomach to his food, and during all these three days, a
slight looseness, the discharges by which were of a green colour.
Monday the 7th of the month, and 8th of the disease, a large round worm
came from him, and he eat with good appetite, though the disorder so
increased, that he was confined to his bed, and in the evening became
delirious; for the relief of which, a blistering plaister was applied
between his shoulders.
Tuesday the 8th of the month, and 9th of the disease, his pulse in
the morning was thought to be better; but in the evening the disorder
increased, he was again delirious, and blisters were applied to the
calves of his legs. In this condition, being drowsy and watchful by
turns, at uncertain and irregular times, sometimes answering questions
with propriety, and at other times irrationally, he continued from
Tuesday till Saturday the 12th of the month, and 13th of the disease,
when in the evening, the surgeon in giving him a glyster, perceived
some small red spots like flea-bites, to appear on his posteriors, but
made no mention of it at that time. At midnight the physician again
visited his patient, and found him excessively red and delirious, with
every appearance of a violent impetus of blood to his head, and with
involuntary contractions or drawings in the muscles of his arms and
legs, upon which he ordered the surgeon to apply four leeches behind
the ears. While they were drawing, a slight red ebullition was observed
upon the neck, which after bleeding disappeared, and the child lay two
hours quiet; but then the uneasiness returned, and before morning he
was three times alternately affected with accessions of cold and heat,
and had cramps and drawings in his arms and legs, like those before
described.
Sunday the 13th of the month, and 14th of the disease, in the morning
his anxiety and restlessness perfectly left him, and in the course of
the day, the delirium so diminished, that about nine in the evening
he was quite sensible; when the surgeon being ordered to repeat the
glyster, observed that the small red spots which he had before taken
notice of, without mentioning, were some of them increased in magnitude
to the size of lentils.
Monday the 14th of the month, and 15th of the illness, early in the
morning the attendant physician again examined the eruptions, and said
that he not only found their number great, but that many of them on
the back were broke and subsided while there were others under the
skin perceptible to the touch; and a very few on the face and neck,
though flat, were round and reddish in their circumference, and white
on their tops, so resembling eruptions of the small-pox, that he
suspected the distemper could be no other: to put the matter out of
doubt, the physician, that had inoculated the child, was called in;
who, when he came, observed two or three flat eruptions on the face, to
be round, edged with a reddish colour, and whitish on the top, as is
above described; but on uncovering the body, and examining the rest,
the chief of which were situated on the back, he looked on them to have
more the appearance of burns or scalds than the small-pox. They were of
irregular forms, like flaccid and transparent vesicles, implete with
a reddish watry fluid, with a visible blackness underneath. He could
not from their appearance, considered from the time of their eruption,
and the early fluidity of their contents after they appeared, see any
reason to think them at all variolous, especially as the child had so
evidently had the disease from inoculation under his own eyes.
Tuesday the 15th of the month, and 16th of the disease, the physician,
who had inoculated the child, called again to see him, when he was
informed, that he had totally lost all power of swallowing, and that it
was suspected to arise from pustules in the throat. He then went to the
child’s bedside, when he not only found many of the before described
bladdery eruptions broken, and their water discharged, but all those
that were not so, more flaccid and empty than the day before.
Wednesday the 16th of the month, and 17th of the disease, there
was very little or no observable change in the morning from the
circumstances which had attended the preceding day; yet some glimmering
hope was conceived of the child’s recovery; but about two in the
afternoon, the melancholy scene was closed by an easy death.
Thursday the 17th of the month, and the morrow after the child’s
death, the physician that had inoculated the child called again, to
inquire of the father if any thing more, that was material, had been
observed between the time he had last seen the child, and the hour
of his death, when he told him that there had not, but that since his
death the corpse had been inspected and opened, in the presence of
four eminent gentlemen of the faculty in Berlin, and that it had been
reported to him as follows.
That the external spots, which had been covered with the before
described bladders, had many of them a blackish, or gangrenous
appearance under the skin; while others that were extremely small,
round and flat, seemed to have in them a small quantity of unconcocted
matter.
That on one out of the four places on the arms, in which the infection
had been inserted in the inoculation, there was found adhering a small
dry scab.
That the throat was perfectly free from any pustulary appearance;
and that all the viscera were quite sound, and shewed no sign of any
disease, either external or internal.
But that on opening the skull, there were, in the lower and back part
of the head, four ounces of extravasated water or serum, except which,
nothing deviated from a healthy and natural state.
Query. Was the disease above described, the natural small-pox? The
effect of any variolous matter left in the blood, in consequence of the
previous inoculation? Or, were the pustulary eruptions, which shewed
themselves on the 12th day of the disease, a critical discharge of a
putrid or other kind of fever?
London, April 11, 1775.
SIR,
I have carefully perused the case you have communicated to me, and am
of opinion, that the disease you have described was not the small-pox.
The cold fit which preceded the other complaints, is what usually
happens at the commencement of the small-pox in common with other
fevers; with this exception, I do not find one symptom during the
whole illness, that corresponds with the well known progress of that
disease.
The eruptions (on which I presume the suspicion of the small-pox was
founded) differed from that distemper in every essential point, viz.
The time and manner of their appearance; the parts they occupied; and
their form and progress. Neither am I of opinion that the disease was
the effect of any variolous matter left in the blood, in consequence of
the previous inoculation.
That the natural and inoculated small-pox, as well as other diseases
which form critical discharges on the skin, may sometimes be succeeded
by boils or breakings out, is well known; but these follow very soon,
are free from danger, and easily cured by gentle purges. Now in the
case before me, I find the patient passed through the inoculated
disease, in a regular, complete, and satisfactory manner, and continued
well for six weeks after, making no complaint: after which he was
seized with a disease that I have not the least doubt was a fever
of the putrid kind; but I do not think that the pustulary eruptions
can with propriety be deemed critical, as they did not terminate the
disease; I rather esteem them to have been marks or tokens of great
malignity and danger.
In the course of my whole practice, which it is well known has been
extensive, I never knew a single instance of any one having the natural
small-pox, after having been inoculated; nor have I ever known any
person to have the disease a second time in the natural way.
I shall not pretend to decide on what may have happened to others; but
what I have said is true, so far as relates to my own experience.
The report of the gentlemen who opened the body, affords no material
information.
The appearance of the spots, is such as might be reasonably expected on
any person who died of a malignant fever. Dry scabs frequently remain
on the inoculated parts, for some months after the disease.
T. DIMSDALE.
To Dr. Baylies, Physician and Privy-Counsellor to his Prussian
Majesty at Berlin.
London, March 10, 1777.
Dear Sir,
Please to accept my thanks for a very polite letter and a book, both
which I received from my learned friend, Dr. Watson. But I am greatly
chagrined to find, on the perusal of the French translation of my
answers to the queries, that by the insertion of words, not to be found
in what I wrote, not only the sense of my answer is perverted, but I am
made to speak what is not true, and to give an opinion contrary to my
own sentiments, and the experience of every one in the least acquainted
with the small-pox.
What follows will convince you, Sir, that my complaint is well founded,
and I confide in your honour, for taking the most effectual steps to
prevent the injury my character would sustain, if the mistake should
not be rectified.
You will please to observe, that at the conclusion of the case
transmitted to me, there were three queries, to each of which I
gave distinct answers. The third query is: “Or were the _pustulary
eruptions_ that shewed themselves on the 12th day of the disease, a
critical discharge of a putrid, or other kind of fever?” In my answer,
having first remarked that the patient passed through the inoculated
disease in a regular manner, I say in reply to the above-mentioned
query.
“After which he was seized with a disease, that I have not the least
doubt was a fever of the putrid kind; but I do not think that _the
pustulary eruptions_ can with propriety be deemed critical, as _they
did not terminate_ the disease: I rather esteem them to have been marks
or tokens of great malignity and anger.”
The French translation stands thus.
Q. “Ou les pustules qui ont paru le 12me jour de la maladie ont elles
été l’evacuation critique d’une fievre putride, ou d’une autre espece
de fievre?”
Reponse. “Ce n’est qu’au bout de ce tems qu’il a été attaqué d’une
maladie, que je crois, sans balancer, avoir été une espece de fievre
putride. Il ne faut cependant pas, selon moi, considerer _les pustules
de la petite vérole_, comme une crise, parce _qu’elle ne leve pas_ la
maladie; au contraire je les regarde comme les marques d’une grande
malignité et d’un grand danger, ouse trouve le patient.”
The perusal of the above will certainly satisfy you of the justness of
my complaint, and I shall wait with impatience for your answer, which
I make no doubt will be such as is consistent with your honour and
character.
It gives me real concern to find, on reading the book you favoured
me with, that you meet with such opposition in the practice of
inoculation, notwithstanding it is so apparently beneficial to mankind;
and particularly, that gentlemen of the first rank in the medical
profession, should find it so difficult to divest themselves of
unreasonable prejudices: but in the end truth will prevail.
I am, Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
T. DIMSDALE.
A Copy.
Berlin, 24th March, 1777.
Dear Sir,
Your kind letter of the 10th instant, for which I owe you the greatest
obligation, arrived here by the last post; and I am truly grieved
to find so material a perversion and misrepresentation of your just
opinion on the case of young Blumenthal, as is made in the French
translation of it. In apology for which, I have only to say, that as I
am not sufficiently master of the French to publish in that language,
I put my English manuscript into the hands of a gentleman, an intimate
friend, who is distinguishedly eminent for his knowledge, both of
French and English, and who was formerly, for some time, a most eminent
preacher, in London, to the French refugees; so that I had no doubt
of his capacity or attention to do the whole justice, and therefore
trusted it to him, with a most strict injunction, whatever liberties
he took in other parts, to be particularly exact in translating the
letters, and quotations, without varying the sense of them in any
part, for the sake of being florid. And as this gentleman lives in
Dresden, where the book was printed, and not at Berlin, I left it to
him to complete it, without any controul, whereby, till I received
your letter, I had not the least knowledge of the fault you so justly
complain of having been committed; and you may, Sir, be very certain,
that if I had, I should not have sent an exemplary of it to you, in
hopes of its passing unobserved. Hence I trust, that you will be fully
convinced, it was quite unintentional; and in order to make you the
utmost reparation, and prevent any injury to your judgment, in the
opinion of the public, from the error committed, I beg leave to inform
you, that as yet the French edition of the book has not been published
in this country, and that none of them have been disposed of, except
a few I have distributed gratis to my friends, to all of whom I will
next week send a fresh printed leaf, which is now in the press, of the
pages No. 51, and 52, wherein the fault is fully corrected, and which
you shall be sure to have in a post or two after you receive this. I
have the pleasure to add, that in the German translation, which has
been sometime published, and which are all sold, the error has not been
committed, and the translation of your letter is literal and exact. And
as both the German and French are but translations of the original,
further to secure the whole from being misunderstood, if you think that
the pamphlet is sufficiently interesting, and worthy of being printed
in English, I will send the manuscript by the first opportunity to
London, and order it to be printed under the inspection of any person
you shall recommend to me for that purpose. Flattering myself, that
this answer to your last, will be fully satisfactory to you,
I am, with the most true esteem and respect,
Dear Sir,
Your most obliged,
And most obedient humble servant,
WILLIAM BAYLIES.
*** End of this LibraryBlog Digital Book "The Present Method of Inoculating for the Small-Pox - To which are added, some experiments, instituted with a - view to discover the effects of a similar treatment in the - natural small-pox" ***
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