The Present Method of Inoculating for the Small-Pox. Dimsdale Thomas
or their effects, are obviously unfit and improper subjects. So likewise are those where there are evident marks of corrosive acrimonious humours, or where there is a manifest debility of the whole frame, from inanition, or any other cause: all these should be treated in a proper manner previous to the introduction of this disease. Constitutions disposed to frequent returns of intermittents, seem likewise justly exceptionable; especially as the preparatory regimen may in some habits increase this tendency. I have known, however, instances of severe ague fits attacking persons between the insertion of the matter and the eruption of the pock, and even during maturation; when the Peruvian bark has been given liberally and with success; the principal business, in the mean time, suffering no injury or interruption.
Among the circumstances generally considered as more or less propitious to inoculation, the season of the year has hitherto been deemed a matter of some importance. Spring and autumn, for the most part, have been recommended, as being the most temperate seasons; the cold of winter, and the summer heats, having been judged unfavourable for this process. But experience does not justify these opinions; for according to the best observation I have been able to make, inoculated persons have generally had more pustules in spring than at any other time of the year; and epidemic diseases being commonly most frequent in autumn, especially fluxes, intermittents, and ulcerated sore throats (all which are liable to mix more or less with the small-pox) the autumn, upon this account, does not seem to be the most favourable season in general.
My opinion is, that considering the surprizing and indisputable benefits arising at all times to patients in the small-pox, from the free admission of fresh cool air and evacuations (which will appear from some cases hereafter subjoined) we may safely inoculate in all seasons, provided care be taken to screen the patients as much as possible from heat in summer, and to prevent them from keeping themselves too warm, and too much shut up, as they are naturally disposed to do, from the weather in winter. And it is well known, that many have been inoculated in the depth of winter, and some during the greatest heat in summer, without suffering any injury or inconvenience from either.
When seasons, however, are marked with any peculiar epidemics, of such a kind especially as may render a mild disease more untractable, it may perhaps be most prudent not to inoculate while such diseases are prevalent.
An eminent physician of my acquaintance in London, at that time in considerable business, informed me that in the year 1756 the small-pox were very rife, in the summer of that year especially. That in most of them the throat was so much affected, that about the seventh day from the eruption, when they ought to have taken liquors in abundance, they could not swallow a drop. The ptyalism was in the mean time copious; and the kind being for the most part confluent, they died on the tenth or eleventh day; and those who sunk under this distemper (who were by much the majority) all suffered from this cause. This instance is only given to shew the necessity of regarding the general state of epidemics when we go into this operation; and to excite those who are friends to this most beneficial discovery, to use every means in their power to provide against a single instance of ill success.
Of the Preparation
In directing the preparatory regimen, I principally aim at these points: to reduce the patient, if in high health, to a low and more secure state; to strengthen the constitution, if too low; to correct what appears vitiated, and to clear the stomach and bowels, as much as may be, from all crudities and their effects. With this view, I order such of my patients as constitute the first class, and who are by much the majority, to live in the following manner: to abstain from all animal food, including broths, also butter and cheese, and from all fermented liquors, excepting small beer which is allowed sparingly, and from all spices, and whatever possesses a manifest heating quality. The diet is to consist of pudding, gruel, sago, milk, rice-milk, fruit-pies, greens, roots, and vegetables of all the kinds in season, prepared or raw. Eggs, though not to be eaten alone, are allowed in puddings, and butter in pie-crust; the patients are to be careful that they do not eat such a quantity as to overload their stomachs, even of this kind of food. Tea, coffee, or chocolate are permitted for breakfast, to those who choose or are accustomed to them.
In this manner they are to proceed about nine or ten days before the operation; during which period, at nearly equal distances, they are directed to take three doses of the following powder, either made into pills, or mixed with a little syrup or jelly, at bed-time; and a dose of Glauber’s salt, dissolved in thin water-gruel, each succeeding morning.
The powder is composed of eight grains of calomel, the same quantity of the compound powder of crabs claws, and one eighth part of a grain of emetic tartar. Instead of emetic tartar, I have sometimes substituted two grains of precipitated sulphur of antimony. In order to facilitate the division of the doses, a large quantity is prepared at once, and great care taken that the mixture is well performed.
This quantity is usually sufficient for a healthy strong man; and the dose must be lessened for women or children, according to their age and strength, as well as for persons advanced in years.
The first dose is commonly ordered at the commencement of the course, the second, three or four days after, and the third, about the eighth or ninth day; and I choose to inoculate the day after the last dose has been taken. On the days of purging, broths are allowed, and the patients are desired to abstain from unprepared vegetables.
What has hitherto been said concerning the preparation, must be considered as proper only for the young or middle-aged, in a good state of health; but among those who are desirous of inoculation are often found tender, delicate, and weakly women, men of bad stamina, valetudinarians by constitution, by illness, or intemperance; also aged persons and children; and for these a very different treatment is directed; a milder course of medicine, rather of the alterative than purgative kind, is here preferable; and in many instances, an indulgence in some light animal food, with a glass or two of wine in case of lowness, is not only allowable, but necessary to support a proper degree of strength, especially in advanced age.
Children whose bowels are often tender, and ought not to be ruffled by strong purges, yet require a mild mercurial, and bear it well; besides emptying the bowels of crudities, it is a good security against worms and their effects, which are sometimes of themselves perplexing enough, and produce very alarming and even fatal disorders.
Indeed the particular state of health of every person entering upon the preparatory course, should be inquired into and considered. Inattention to this has, I am satisfied, done great mischief, and particularly the indiscreet use of mercurials, whereby a salivation has often been raised, to the risque of impairing good constitutions, and the ruin of such as were previously weak and infirm. The distinctions and treatment necessary, will be obvious to those who are acquainted with the animal œconomy and medical practice.
The time of menstruation has generally been the guide in respect to the inoculation of women; that the whole of the disease might be over within the menstrual period. This I commonly observe, when I can choose my time without any inconvenience, and inoculate soon after the evacuation ceases; though I have no reason to decline performing the operation at any time, as I can produce many examples in which no inconvenience has arisen, nor any difference been observable, when this circumstance has been disregarded.
Women with child have likewise been inoculated, and done well; yet some particular emergency should be pleaded in excuse for it in their situation, as it may be attended with some hazard. I have not inoculated any woman whom I knew to be pregnant; but some who concealed their pregnancy have been inoculated by me, who, I fancy, hoped for an event that did not happen, I mean miscarriages: one of these had a child born nine weeks after inoculation, at the full time, with distinct marks of the disease, though the mother had very few eruptions.
Of Infection
The manner of communicating this distemper by inoculation in this country, has of late been the following: A thread is drawn through a ripe pustule, and well moistened with the matter: a piece of this thread is insinuated into a superficial incision made in one or both arms, near the part where issues are usually fixed; this thread is covered with a plaister, and there left for a day or two. This is the most usual way, though others have been practised by several in the profession.
At present, very different methods are pursued; two of which, that vary in some respects, I