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,