Couns. for the Cr. I beg, gentlemen of the jury, you will please to remember that the Doctor says, the composition of the powder is a secret. Now, Sir, please to proceed to his manner of communicating the disease.
Dr. Baker. The operator opens a pustule on the arm of some patient in whom the matter is yet in a crude state; and then with his moist lancet just raises the cuticle on the arm of the person to be inoculated, applying neither plaister nor bandage. This was his method some time ago; but he now generally dips his lancet only in the moisture issuing from the place of incision, before the eruption, four days after the operation.
Couns. for the Cr. And pray, Sir, what medicines does he give after the operation?
Dr. Baker. On the night following, the patient takes a pill, which is repeated every other night till the fever comes on.
Couns. for the Cr. Do you know the composition of this pill?
Dr. Baker. No: it is a secret.
Couns. for the Cr. Are the patients confined to their apartments at this period?
Dr. Baker. No: moderate exercise in the open air is strongly recommended.
Couns. for the Cr. Now, Sir, please to inform the Court what you have learnt concerning the progress of the disease and the manner of treating it.
Dr. Baker. Three days after the operation, if it succeed, there appears on the incision a spot, like a flea bite, not as yet above the skin, which gradually becomes first a red pimple, and then a bladder full of clear lymph, advancing to maturation with the pustules. In proportion as the discolouration round the place of incision is greater, the less quantity of eruption is expected; therefore, when this circle is small, stronger and more frequent cathartics are exhibited. If, when the fever comes on, there appears no tendency to perspiration, some acid drops, or more powerful sudorifics, are administered. In general, during the burning heat of the fever, he gives cold water; but after the perspiration begins, warm baum-tea, or water-gruel. As soon as the sweat abates, the eruption having appeared, he obliges every body to get up, to walk about the house, or into the garden. From this time, to the turn of the disease, he gives milk-gruel ad libitum. On the following day he gives a dose of Glauber’s salts, and, if the eruption be considerable, he repeats it on the third day.