The Present Method of Inoculating for the Small-Pox: To which are added, some experiments, instituted with a view to discover the effects of a similar treatment in the natural small-poxDimsdale, Thomas
History
The Present Method of Inoculating for the Small-Pox: To which are added, some experiments, instituted with a view to discover the effects of a similar treatment in the natural small-pox
Dimsdale, Thomas
Smallpox -- Vaccination -- Early works to 1800
8th. He had four stools in the night, sweated pretty well, and got some
sleep; but he coughed much, breathed with difficulty, expectorated
some thin frothy phlegm, and complained of great pain in his breast
and side. Eight ounces of blood were directed to be taken away; the
antimonial powder was repeated, with an addition of one grain of
calomel; and he was directed to drink frequently a cup-full of pectoral
decoction, to a quart of which was added one ounce and a half of
Mindererus’s spirit.
9th. The blood taken away yesterday was very fizy, the pain in the
breast and side much abated, but the cough very troublesome, and the
expectorated phlegm streaked with blood. The inoculated parts were now
discoloured, shewed evident signs of infection, and that we should
soon have the small-pox to encounter together with the peripneumonic
disorder.
10th. Very restless all the night, coughed much, and with great
difficulty expectorated brown viscid phlegm. The bleeding was repeated,
and the use of the antimonial powder and other medicines continued;
which had every day procured some stools, and supported a constant
breathing sweat.
11th. The blood was still found fizy, and the fever, cough, difficulty
of respiration and of expectoration were increased. The progress of
infection in the arm was slow, but shewed, however, that the eruptive
fever would soon come on; and I was apprehensive that it would be
so confounded with the peripneumonic disorder, as to cause much
perplexity. I determined nevertheless to attempt to relieve the latter
by whatever means I could, and wait the event; and therefore ordered
more blood to be taken, a blistering plaister to be applied between
the shoulders, and a small quantity of gum ammoniacum to be added to
his pectoral medicines. In the evening I was informed that all the
troublesome symptoms were considerably abated.
It must here be noted, that all the company, who had been inoculated
at the same time, were now ill, and most of them had some eruptions.
12th. He had had more rest; but though most of his complaints were
relieved, yet the fever still continued, and he expectorated with
difficulty some very dark-brown phlegm, so that no alteration was made
in his medicines.
The appearance on the incisions spread, but did not look as usual when
the eruptive complaints are begun.
13th. The fever, pain in the side, cough, and difficulty of
expectoration, being again increased, I ordered a vesicatory to the
side, and some oxymel of squills in a pectoral mixture.
14th. The fever and pain of the side were abated, and he had obtained
some little sleep, which was however much disturbed by sudden
startings. The skin at the incisions had an unusual appearance, not
easily to be described; and instead of being inflamed, as it usually
is, where the progress of the infection is favourable, and not
interrupted by some extraordinary accident, it was of a pale hue.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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