An account of the manner of inoculating for the small pox in the East Indies: With some observations on the practice and mode of treating that disease in those parts — John Shaqi
An account of the manner of inoculating for the small pox in the East Indies: With some observations on the practice and mode of treating that disease in those partsHolwell, J. Z. (John Zephaniah)
History
An account of the manner of inoculating for the small pox in the East Indies: With some observations on the practice and mode of treating that disease in those parts
Holwell, J. Z. (John Zephaniah)
Smallpox -- Prevention; Smallpox -- Vaccination
If the known effects of cold bathing are attended to, and its sovereign
virtues duly considered, in the very different circumstances of Palsies,
Rheumatisms, general relaxation of the solids, and particular relaxation
of the stomach and intestines, we shall not be long at a loss to account
for this part of the Eastern practice in the course of Inoculation: They
allege in defence of it, that by the sudden shock of the cold water, and
consequent increased motion of the blood, all offensive principles are
forcibly driven from the heart, brain, and other interior parts of the
body, towards the extremities and surface, and at the same time the
intended fermentation is thereby more speedily and certainly promoted;
(hence it probably is, that the fever generally commences so early as
about the close of the sixth day.) When the fever appears, they desist
from the use of the cold water, because when the fermentation is once
begun, the blood should not, they say, receive any additional commotion
until the eruption appears, when they again resume the cold water, and
continue it to the end of the disease; asserting, that the use of it
alone, by the daily fresh _impetus_ it gives to the blood, enables it
utterly to expel and drive out the remainder of the _immediate_ cause of
the disease into the pustules. I have been myself an eye-witness to many
instances of its marvelous effect, where the pustules have sunk, and the
patient appeared in imminent danger, but almost instantly restored by
the application of three or four collans of cold water, which never
fails of filling the Pock, as it were by enchantment; and so great is
the stress laid by the Eastern Practitioners on this preparative, (for
as the three interdicted articles in food is preparative to the
Inoculation, so this may be deemed preparative to the eruption,) that
when they are called in, and find, upon enquiry, that circumstance (and
opening the pustules) has not been attended to, they refuse any further
attendance.
The next and last article of the Eastern practice, which falls under our
consideration, is that just abovementioned, viz. the opening of the
Pustules, whilst the matter continues in a fluid state. That a
circumstance so important, so self-evidently rational and essential,
should have been so long unthought of, appears most wonderful! and if my
memory fails me not, HELVETIUS is the only writer upon the subject of
the Small Pox, that hinted it in practice before Doctor TISSOT; this
accurate and benevolent Physician has enforced it with such strength of
judgment and argument, that he leaves little room (except facts) to add
to his pathetic persuasive; in this he is supported by his learned and
elegant Commentator and Translator Doctor KIRKPATRICK, (page 226 and
227,) and I am not without hopes it will, contrary to Doctor TISSOT'S
expectation, "become a general practice;" the more especially, when it
is found to have invariable success, and venerable antiquity, for its
sanction.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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