EXTRACT XIII. B. 



ON SMALLPOX. 



THIS is a disease of a typically contagious and infectious 

 character, and as an example of the acute varieties of the 

 exanthematous and zymotic diseases it might appropri- 

 ately be appended to our general treatment of the subject 

 of zymosis. 



It will be noticed that it is both contagious and 

 infectious, being able to effect an entrance to the bodies 

 of its subjects through the media of the air they breathe, 

 the liquids and solids they consume, and by direct surface 

 acquirement through personal contact with the materies 

 morbi. 



The disease is so well known, and has been so much 

 and so long in the public and professional eye, that any 

 allusion to its clinical character and treatment will not be 

 here necessary ; we, therefore, merely venture to refer to 

 a few of the aspects of the subject so far as they relate 

 to the views we are promulgating ; and, in doing so, it 

 may best meet our requirements if we recapitulate the 

 main features of a case with which we are familiar. The 

 case is as follows : J. D., a young commercial gentleman 

 of splendid physique and athletic attainments, in the course 

 of business was ushered into the room of a gentleman 

 who had been but a short time unwell, but who, as it 

 turned out, was at the time developing an attack of 

 variola, and who, as is generally the case in severe confluent 

 smallpox, was profoundly "poorly." He talked for a 

 short time with his affected host, and on bidding him 

 good-day and leaving, he suddenly became aware of a 



