Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/104

84] SM A shall Like notice first of the inom- la f inn of the smrilf-poz, by intro- ducing the minutest portion of matter into the system, through a slight wound in the upper-arm, made by a lancet or cautery. This bold and ingenious attempt has, doubtless, been the means of pre- serving innumerable lives, and may therefore be deemed a real benefit to society. With respcft to the most proi>er season for such opera- tion. Baron Dimsdale has evi- dently proved, that the inoculation may be undertaken at any period of the year, provided the patient be skreened from heat in the sum- mer, and from severe cold in the winter, so that he may enjoy fresh, cool air, when no other ej^idemic diseases prevail : the most proper subjeds are children n/ier the se- cond year (on account of the vari- vus affl-t'^ons to which infants are liable prior to that period), without evert rcj edging scrophulous, fccor- budc, and other haliits. Previously to the inoculalion, the patient should, for about nine or ten days, adhere to a regular diet, avoiding all animal food, fat substances, malt-liquors (except- ing a little small beer), seasoned dishes, wine, ace. while he subsists on puddings, sago, fruit-pies, and vegetables of every description, but with great moderation. Baron D. farther direfts the following pow- der to be given three times during this regimen, or every third night; and a dose of Glauber's salt to be administered every succeeding morning: Take calomel, and pul- verized crabs-claws, of each eight grains, and two grains of sulphu- rated antimony, or l-9th part of a grain of tartarized antimony : — the quantity here prescribed, is for an »dult, so that the Sd) 4th, or even SXf A 6th part, will be sufficient for S child, according to its age and sex. — The day after the third dose has been swallowed, will be the proper period for inoculation. But, if the patient be of a delicate, tender habit, especially females ; or, if the blood be contaminated by dis- ease, or intemperance, a moderate portion of animal food, and one or two glasses of a generous wine every day, may be safely and ad- vantageously allowed. Towards the 5th or 6th day, a slight fever occurs, but which again subsides on the appearance of the pustules ; these, in the pro- gress of several days longer, be- come more visible, particularly about the part inoculated ; pursu- ing, in gent-ral, the same course an the mild or distinSi small-pox; and consequently requiring the samr treatment, in its different stages. VACCINE INOCULATION. One of the most remarkable and important phenomena, in the history of animal nature, is the cow-pox, which was first duly in- quired into, and publicly an- nounced in the year 17(^3, by Dr. Jknneb, of Berkeley, Gloucester- shire ; though it had for ages been known to dairy-men in the West of England. I'his malady appears on the nipples of cows, in the form of irregular pustules.— -From the observations made by Dr. Jenxer, and subsequently, by Drs, WooDviLLE, Pearson, and other medical pra6titioners, it fol- lows, that persons inoculated with matter, taken from one of these pustules, are thereby rendered un- susceptible of small-pox infeSi'ion, and the reverse. The experiments instituted with a view to ascertain this exlraordiuarj' faft, are too nu- merous