Some of my own patients, and, as I am credibly informed, of other inoculators in this way, have had considerable eruptions of this kind after they have returned home; which have probably given occasion for the reports of several having had the disease again in the natural way after inoculation. But that these reports are ill-grounded, will appear from this observation, to wit, that in all the cases of this sort which have occurred in my own practice, or, as far as I can learn, in that of others, the second or latter crop of pustules has always happened within the time usually allowed for the progress of the small-pox from inoculation, and before the inflammation on the arm has ceased, and sooner than they could be supposed to be produced by infection taken in the natural way; and whenever it has happened, it has been to persons in whom, after a slight eruption, and abatement of symptoms, the disease has prematurely been judged to be quite over, and they have therefore been permitted to return to their families. It will doubtless be asked, how cases of this kind should ever happen among those who return home as cured? To which I answer, That it is no unusual thing for industrious men, after a slight eruption, and cessation of all complaints, to ask leave to return home to their occupations and families; and where it has been thought that no danger would accrue to others, their request has been often granted; for the physician, no more than the patient, can foresee when these accidents shall follow: but it may be observed here, that in all these cases of my own knowledge, very repellent methods have been used in the beginning; and a more generous diet or greater exercise afterwards, has seemed to contribute to this secondary eruption. Before I conclude this chapter, it may be proper to observe, that inoculated patients, in some stage or other of the disease, may possibly be attacked with diseases altogether independent of the small-pox; such, for instance, as may arise from worms, or be the epidemic of the season, or such as the patient may by constitution be subject to; and some cases of this sort will be found among those annexed.[4] [4] Vide Cases XVII. XIX. XXI. CONSEQUENCES of this Method of INOCULATION. I shall now consider the consequences that follow this very cool and repelling method, and how far the patient’s future state of health may be affected by a practice so new, and opposite to all established theory.