OF THE SMALL-POX.

127

»rt ol treatment. This is certainly a sufficient proof of the safety ateast of exposing patients in the open air. There can be no reasonhowever for exposing the small-pox to public view. It is now verycommon in the environs of the great towns, to meet patients in thesmall-pox on the public walks. This practice, however it well maysuit the purposes of boasted inoculators, is dangerous to the citizens,and contrary to the laws of humanity and sound policy.

The food in this disease ought to be very light, and of a coolingnature, as panada, or bread boiled with equal quantities of milk andwater, good apples roasted or boiled with milk, and sweetened witha little sugar, or such like.

The drink may be equal parts of milk and water, clear sweet whey,barley-water or thin gruel, &c. After the pox are MI, butter-milkbeing of an opening and cleansing nature, is a very proper drink.

MEDICINE.—This disease is generally divided into four differentperiods, viz. the fever winoh precedes the eruption, the eruption itself,the suppuration or maturation of the pustules, and the secondary fever.

It has already been observed, that little more is necessary duringthe primary fever than to keep the patient cool and quiet, allowinghim to drink diluting liquors, and bathing his feet frequently in warmwater. Thougli this be generally the safest course that can be takenwith infants, yet adults of a strong constitution and plethoric habitssometimes require bleeding. When a full pulse, a dry shin, and othersymptoms of inflammation render this operation necessary, it oughtto be performed; but unless the symptoms are urgent, it is safer tolet it alone; if the body is bound, emollient clysters may be thrown in.

If there is great nausea, or inclination to vomit, weak camomile teaor lukewarm water may be drank, in order to clean the stomach.At the beginning of a fever, Nature generally attempts to discharge,either upwards or downwards, which, if promoted by gentle means,would tend greatly to abate the violence of the disease.

Though every method is to be taken during the primary fever, bya cool regimen, &c. to prevent too great an eruption, yet after thepustules have made their appearance, our business is to promote thesuppuration by diluting drink, light food, and, if Nature seems toflag, by generous cordials. When a low creeping pulse, faintness,and great loss of strength, render cordials necessary, we would re-commend good wine, which may be made into negus, with an equalquantity of water, and sharpened with the juice of orange, the jellyof currants, or the like. Wiiie-whey, sharpened as above, is likewisea proper drink in this case; great care, however, must be taken notto overheat the patient by any of these things. This, instead ofpromoting, would retard the eruption.

The rising of the small-pox, is often prevented by the violence ofthe fever; in this case the cool regimen is strictly to be observed.The patient's chamber must not only be. kept cool, but he oughtiikewise frequently to be taken out of bed, and to be lightly cover-ed with clothes while in it

Excessive restlessness often prevents the rising and filling of thesmall-pox. When this happens, gentle opiates are necessary. The.*

^