For in the practice of inoculation experience has taught me, that after as well as before the eruption, persons may safely take mercurial purges, and go out during their operation (though I have seldom advised any to do so) into the cold air, in inclement weather, without suffering the least harm or subsequent ill consequence from it. And by this experience I was led, though with great caution, to try whether the same practice might not be safely employed in the cure of the natural small-pox, as well as the inoculated; nor have the trials been unsuccessful: for though among the patients I have treated in this manner, some had confluent sorts, yet were the complaints unusually moderate throughout the whole progress of the disease, and the maturation was completed, without such troublesome and alarming symptoms and events as might be expected under any other known method of treatment; nor did any secondary fever ensue. I would not, however, be understood to entertain so good an opinion of this method, as to insinuate that it will save all who have the bad confluent kind; too many of these are incurable; but I am not without hopes, that it may give a chance of recovery, hitherto untried, to many: and even if this alterative and evacuating course in the early part of the disease should not succeed, so as to avert the approaching danger, I think there is great reason to suppose that nourishment, cordials, and opiates, which may be wanted in the state of maturation, will be administered with more advantage and security after it, than if that method had not been previously taken. It seems necessary, however, to declare, that nothing which has been said is meant to relate to practice in the bleeding or purple small-pox; though very cold repellent methods may perhaps deserve to be tried in these hitherto fatal cases, provided it can be done early; but the mercurial evacuating course seems quite improper. Upon the whole, what has been said on the natural small-pox, must wait the award of time and experience, the only tests of the utility of any practice; for I have lived long enough to have seen several instances where very ingenious and well-meaning men have been greatly mistaken, by relying too much on the first impressions made by a few successful experiments. CONCLUSION. Before I dismiss the subject, it may not be improper to give some account of the motives that induced me to adopt this method.