A young gentleman aged nineteen was inoculated June 2d, 1765.
On the 3d he rode out with a friend in an open chaise, and it being
stormy weather, returned home wet. I called on him next morning, and
found him in bed, complaining that he had rested ill, felt shooting
pains in his head, his throat a little sore, thought himself feverish,
and that he had taken cold the preceding day. All this seemed very
probable; his pulse was too quick, though the heat not considerable,
and he was in a moderate sweat.
He rose about ten, and kept within doors the whole day, complaining of
weariness, slight pain in the head and about the shoulders; also that
the incised parts felt uneasy, and itched.
On the 5th he thought his cold considerably better, and ventured
abroad. His arm appeared certainly infected, and very forward; insomuch
that I suspected he would have no more illness in consequence of the
inoculation.
On the 7th the inflammation on the arm was considerably abated, and the
incision seemed disposed to heal.
Apprehending from these circumstances that nothing more was to be
expected from the operation, he was inoculated again in the evening,
from a person who had the distemper pretty full, though of a distinct
kind, in the natural way.
No marks, however, of infection ensued from this last operation; and he
continued visiting with me many patients in all stages of the disease:
so that it is probable he was then in more danger of infection than he
will ever be again.