72 Dr. AmsLiE on Small-Pox and Inoculation in Eastern Countries. 



they can be properly called, which contain a watery fluid) felt hardish under 

 the finger, as if made of horn, and on the fourth day dried up ; so differing 

 from the regular hives of India as well as Europe, in which the eruption is 

 known to appear on the fourth day with little abatement of the fever. 

 * This notion of a modified hives (emphyesis globularis) in India may 

 appear questionable, when it is taken into consideration that none of the 

 varieties of water or chicken-pock (emphyesis varicella) have ever yet been 

 given by inoculation : a fact ascertained by the distinguished author just 

 quoted. Yet I am not aware to what other cause than previous vaccina- 

 tion could be ascribed the peculiar mildness of a disease (hives), well known 

 to be in its natural character, sufficiently inflammatory ; an affection 

 which, though it cannot be excited by inoculation, is known to attack peo- 

 ple but once in the course of their lives. 



When I first adopted vaccination in the Carnatic, I found that even with 

 the best virus, I often failed in producing the disease ; till it struck me that 

 if, previous to inserting the fluid, the arm was to be gently rubbed with a 

 piece of dry flannel, so as to induce a slight degree of warmth, it might ren- 

 der the absorption more certain. This method I put in practice, and with 

 success. 



. Considering that the vaccine vesicle cannot be, or has not yet been, 

 found on the cows or sheep in India, the greatest care becomes necessary 

 in that country to keep it up in proper purity in the human race ; it may 

 not, therefore, be of slight importance to be generally known, that it was 

 discovered by the late much lamented Mr. Bryce of Edinburgh, that the 

 crusts properly preserved from the air in a closely sluit phial, preserve 

 their active virtue for a great length of time, and may thus be transmitted 

 to the most distant countries, and there produce the disease. 



In propagating vaccination in our Eastern dominions, a good deal had 

 been done previously to my leaving Madras in 1815 ; yet it is evident 

 that still greater things might have been accomplished, had it not been for 

 the perverse prejudices of the Hindus, which, however, lam happy to learn, 

 are gradually giving way, as they become more and more satisfied of the 

 value of the discovery. Annual reports of the progress in overcoming 

 those obstacles were regularly made, in ray time, to Dr. Jenner, by the dif- 

 ferent superintendents of vaccination of the three establishments ; and, in 

 fiTCt, many praiseworthy measures taken, to aid that distinguished individual 

 in completely establishing the virtues of this extraordinary preservative. 



