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of it; by taking it from a person who has had the small-pox of the most benign kind; and, lastly, by taking the matter from such persons, as soon as it has appeared in the pustules, either in the part inoculated, or on other parts of the body;

8, The introducing, by inoculation, but a small portion of the contagious matter;

9, After inoculation, the continuing the veget able diet, as well as the employment of mercurial and antimonial medicines; and, at the same time, frequently employing purgatives

10, Both before and after inoculation, taking care to avoid external heat, either from the sun, artificial fires, warm chambers, much clothing, or being much in bed; and, on the contrary, exposing the person to a free and cool air;

11, Upon the appearance of the eruptive fever, the rendering that moderate by the employment of purgatives; by the use of cooling and antiseptic acids; and especially, by exposing the person fre quently to a cool and even a cold air, at the same time giving freely of cold drink;

12, After the eruption, the continuing the application of cold air, and the use of purgatives during the course of the disease, till the pustules are fully ripened.

604. These are the measures proposed and practised in the lates: and most improved state of inoculation; and the advantages obtained by the

whole of the practice, or at least by most of the measures above mentioned, are now ascertained by a long experience to amount to this, that in ninetynine cases of the hundred, inoculation gives a distinct small-pox only, and that also very generally of the mildest form: but it will be still useful, for the proper conduct of inoculation, to consider the importance and utility of the several measures above mentioned, that we may thereby more exactly determine upon what the advantages of inoculation more certainly depend.

605. As the common infection may often seize persons labouring under another disease, which may render the small-pox more violent, it is obvious that inoculation must have a great advantage, by avoiding such concurrence. But, as the avoiding such concurrence may often, in the meanwhile, leave persons exposed to the common infection, it merits inquiry, whether every diseased state should restrain from the practice of inocula tion, or what are the particular diseases that should do so. This is not yet sufficiently ascertained by observation; and we have frequently remarked, that the small-pox have often occurred with a dis eased state of the body, without being thereby rendered more violent. In particular, we have observed, that a scrofulous habit, or even the presence of scrofula, did not render the small-pox more violent; and we have observed also, that

several diseases of the skin are equally innocent. I am of opinion, that they are the diseases of the febrile kind, or ailments ready to induce or aggravate a febrile state, that especially give the concurrence which is most dangerous with the small-pox. I dare not attempt any general rules; but I am disposed to maintain, that, though a person be in a diseased state, if that state be of uncertain nature and effect, and at the same time the small-pox be exceedingly rife, so as to render rife, so as to render it extremely difficult to guard against the common infection, it will always be safer to give the small-pox by inoculation, than to leave the person to take them by the common infection.

606. Though inoculation has been practised with safety upon persons of all ages; yet, from what has actually occurred in the cases of common infection, and from several other considerations, there is reason to conclude, that adults are more liable to a violent disease than persons of younger years. At the same time, it is observed, that children, in the time of their first dentition, are liable, from this irritation, to have the small-pox rendered more violent; and that infants, before the time of dentition, upon receiving the contagion of the small-pox, are liable to be affected with epileptic fits, which frequently prove fatal. It is, therefore, upon the whole, evident, that, though circumstances may admit, and even render inocu

lation at any age proper; yet, for the most part, it will be still more advisable to choose persons at an age, after the first dentition is over, and before the time of puberty.

607. Though inoculation has been practised with safety at every season of the year; yet, as it is certain that the cold of winter may increase the inflammatory, and the heats of summer increase the putrescent state of the small-pox, it is highly probable that inoculation may have some advantage, from avoiding the extremes either of heat of cold.

608. Although the original temperament and constitutions of men are not to be readily changed; it is sufficiently certain, that the conditions of the human body may, by various causes, in many respects be occasionally very much changed: and therefore, as the use of animal food may increase both the inflammatory and putrescent state of the human body, so it must render persons, on receiving the contagion of the small-pox, less secure against a violent disease; and, therefore, inoculation may derive some advantage from abstinence from animal food for some time before the inoculation is performed: but I am of opinion, that a longer time than that usually prescribed may be often necessary; and I am persuaded that the Scottish mothers, who avoid giving their children

animal food till they are past the small-pox, render this disease in them of a milder kind.

609. I cannot deny that mercurial and antimonial medicines may have some effect in determining to a more free perspiration, and therefore may be of some use in preparing a person for the smallpox; but there are many observations which render me doubtful as to their effect. The quantity of both these medicines, particularly of the antimony, commonly employed, is too inconsiderable to produce any effect. It is true, that the mercurials have often been employed more freely; but even their salutary effects have not been evident, and their mischievous effects have sometimes appeared. I doubt, therefore, upon the whole, if inoculation derives any advantage from these pre tended preparatory courses of medicines.

610. As it has been often observed, in the case of almost all contagions, that cold, intemperance, fear, and some other circumstances, concurring with the application of the contagion, have greatly aggravated the future disease, so it must be the same in the case of the small pox; and it is undoubted, that inoculation must derive a great, and perhaps its principal, advantage, from avoiding the concurrences above mentioned.

611. It has been commonly supposed, that in

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