About three in the afternoon I visited a middle-aged man, who after
two days illness had an eruption, which the neighbours suspected to
be the small-pox; I found him in bed, very hot, and in a sweat; his
pulse quick, full, and strong; his face pretty full of small-pox,
which had begun to appear in the morning. I received the usual account
of the preceding symptoms, which had been pretty severe, and he
still made great complaints of pains in his head, back, and loins;
I immediately gave him a pill, containing cal. gr. v. tart. emet.
gr. 1/8, which I had taken with me upon a presumption that I might
want it: I also insisted on his getting up, and going abroad into the
air, notwithstanding the sweat he was in, which it was my intention
to restrain. I met with the usual difficulty in getting this advice
complied with; however he was assisted, came down stairs, and went
abroad, being supported by his wife; for he seemed very weak, and had
not been out of his bed for two days before. As he complained of great
thirst, I gave him a glass of cold water, and stayed about half an
hour to see the effect of this treatment; he was at first very faint
and sick, and vomited up some bilious matter, but not the pill he had
lately taken; after this, while I stayed he said his head was better,
and allowed he was refreshed by the air. I desired him to continue
abroad as much as he could, and when he found himself tired, to go in
and lie down a little; but as soon as he was able, to get out again,
and if thirsty, to drink as much cold water as he pleased. I then took
my leave, ordering a purging draught to be taken as soon as he received
it, which I concluded would be at least three or four hours from that
time.
Next morning, on visiting him, I was told that the purge had operated
four times, that he found himself considerably relieved, both in his
head and back, and had rested better than any time since he had been
taken ill. The eruption proceeded slowly; but many more pustules now
appeared in his face, and other parts, than before; he kept abroad,
and his complaints continued wearing off. Next morning I found him
quite easy; he was pretty full of a distinct pock, and from this time
all went on well, without having occasion to take any more medicines.