Thomas Dimsdale

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

A man of 44 was inoculated. I saw him every day, and it was easy to perceive that the infection had taken place very early. On the 7th it appeared so forward, that I ventured to prognosticate he would have a very early and mild disorder, and no eruption. On the 8th he complained of a pain in his head and back, and that he felt a general uneasiness, attended with a loss of appetite, which at other times was very good. He continued complaining in this manner that whole day, but on the next found himself pretty well, and continued so without any other illness. The inflamed appearance on the incision abated from this time. His health returned, and he still remains perfectly well. CASE VI. A middle-aged man was inoculated at the same time; whose case in every cir N cumstance eumstance so nearly-resembled the former, as to render it* needless to enumerate the particulars. Both were inoculated a second time with-out any eruption or signs of infection happening in consequence of it. CASE VII. Dec. 5th.] A healthy man of 38 was inoculated. On the 7th he called on me, when his arm itched very much, and shewed certain marks of the infection having succeeded. The inflammatory appearance was then considerably abated, and the incisions seemed disposed to heal. He felt no uneasiness on the part, nor had he any"illness. On the 12th and 13 th he complained of pains in his head and limbs, as also of stiffness under his arms, which I esteem one of the most certain proofs of the infection having taken place. There was no alteration in the pulse, nor any other sign of a sever; a few pimples about the neck and arms followed these complaints, yet not such as I should have esteemed variolous on any 4 other other occasion; for some soon..