In the beginning of June 1766, a young woman was taken with a shivering
fit, succeeded by a fever, and the symptoms that usually precede
the small-pox, in a very violent degree: these were attended with
such general weakness, that in a few hours after the seizure she was
obliged to go to bed, where she soon became delirious, and afterwards
insensible, her urine passing involuntarily; in this condition I
first saw her about forty hours after she was taken ill. The heat was
excessive, her pulse extremely quick, but not strong, and a few small
eruptions appeared on the face, sufficient to ascertain the distemper.
Upon raising her up she did not make the least effort to support
herself, and therefore was permitted to lie down, and as the room was
small, the window was set open. Five grs. of calomel were with great
difficulty got down; and an infusion of sena and manna being prepared,
the person attending was desired to give a little and often, till she
had a stool.
It was very improper that she should remain in the house where she was,
on account of the family; yet there was no possibility of moving her
in her present condition. Next morning I was informed she had remained
in the same stupid way the whole night, but was now rather better, and
had spoke more sensibly, had two stools, and vomited up some bilious
matter. The heat was still great, the pulse quick, and many small
confluent pustules were out on the face and other parts: this was the
third day of her illness. I advised her being got out of bed, and the
windows to be kept open; but was in doubt whether she had strength
enough to be taken into the open air.
In the evening the eruption was increased considerably in number; and
she was so much eased of her complaints, as to bear being removed in a
cart to a house in the neighbourhood, where I gave her calomel three
grains, emetic tartar one eighth of a grain.
She had some rest this night, but the fever continued; and not having
had any more stools, she was ordered to take a laxative potion of inf.
of sena and manna. She had three stools before evening, and all her
complaints abated. She was very full all over of a very confluent kind.
This young woman sat up the greatest part of several days after she
was quite blind, by her own choice; and I do not recollect ever seeing
one with so large a crop of pustules, who went through the disease
so easily; for she made no complaint but of soreness, nor took any
medicine but a few drops of thebaic tincture at bed-time, towards the
crisis.