The Present Method of Inoculating for the Small-Pox

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Dimsdale Thomas. The Present Method of Inoculating for the Small-Pox

Of the Age, Constitution, and Season of the Year proper for Inoculation

Of the Preparation

Of Infection

Of the Progress of Infection

Of Anomalous Symptoms and Appearances

Consequences of this Method of Inoculation

The Effects of this Treatment applied to the natural Small-Pox

Conclusion

CASES

CASES of the natural Small-pox, treated in the preceding Method

POSTSCRIPT

CASE

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Before I proceed to describe the regimen and preparatives, it may not be improper to mention what has occurred to me in respect to the most suitable age and constitution for inoculation; and likewise what seasons seem to be more or less favourable for the practice.

In regard to age; where it is left to my choice, I decline inoculating children under two years old. I know the common practice is against me in this particular; but my reasons for rejecting such are founded on observation and experience. I have, indeed, lately inoculated many under this age, at the pressing entreaties of their parents, and they have all done well. But it must be considered, that young children are exposed to all the hazards of dentition, fevers, fluxes, convulsions, and other accidents, sufficiently difficult in themselves to manage in such tender subjects; insomuch that scarce two in three of all that are born, live to be two years old, as is demonstrable from the Bills of Mortality.

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But it appears very clearly from the present practice of inoculation, that so soon as any moisture can be taken from the infected part of an inoculated patient, previous to the appearance of any pustules, and even previous to the eruptive fever, this moisture is capable of communicating the small-pox with the utmost certainty. I have taken a little clear fluid from the elevated pellicle on the incised part, even so early as the fourth day after the operation, and have at other times used matter fully digested at the crisis, with equal success. I chuse, however, in general, to take matter for infection during the fever of eruption, as I suppose it at that time to have its utmost activity.

In all cases, when I take matter from an inoculated person, it is from the place where it was inserted; as I am always sure to find infection there if the disease succeeds, and always of sufficient energy.

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