A healthy young man was inoculated December the 6th, 1766. On the 11th
and 12th he was cold and hot alternately, and complained of great pain
in his head, back, and limbs.
The 13th he was much easier, but still felt pains in his head and
back. The inoculated parts, which from the operation till this day I
had no opportunity of seeing, shewed evident signs of infection; but
the skin at the incision was pale, not elevated, nor did a thin fluid
appear under the cuticle, as is usual when the progress of infection is
favourable; neither had he felt much uneasiness about the incisions, or
stiffness in the axilla.
14th. He was free from all complaints; the discolouration on the arm
had spread wider, and two or three pustules were discovered near the
place of insertion.
15th. Many pustules appeared in different parts, about one hundred.
16th. The pustules were properly advanced, and the man seemed to be
perfectly well. But there were now some appearances in the arm which
I was dissatisfied with: for the inoculated part was covered with a
great number of very small pale-coloured confluent pustules; and the
incision, instead of being elevated, was depressed, and of a livid
colour in the middle: this sometimes happens, and denotes an eschar and
ulceration at the conclusion of the disease.
17th. He was seized in the middle of the day with a shivering fit,
succeeded by great heat and pain in the head, back, and limbs, which
continued all the following night. He likewise felt considerable pain
at the incision, and in the shoulder, extending to the axilla.
18th. In the morning he complained of great pain at the incision up
to the shoulder and the axilla of one arm. The pulse was very quick,
and the fever high. In this situation I made no doubt but there would
be a second eruption, and therefore persuaded him to get up and go
into the air, and directed an infusion of senna and manna to be taken
immediately.
This operated four times, and he was considerably relieved of all his
complaints; but fresh pustules now made their appearance on the face
and other parts, to the amount of double the number at least of the
first. From this time he remained quite free from fever, and every
other complaint; the last pustules, as well as the first, maturating
in the most favourable manner. But what is very remarkable, both crops
of pustules ripened nearly about the same time; for the progress of
those which came out first seemed to be retarded by the second eruptive
fever, and the latter pustules advanced quicker than usual.