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.