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.