DURATION OF THE DISEASE. 157 



plain much of pain in the throat, and could only 

 swallow liquids. The small red spots, or pa- 

 pulae, were converted into vesicles or pustules, 

 in periods, varying from three to seven or eight 

 days ; the fluid contained in these vesicles or 

 pustules is represented by some as resembling 

 whey, by others milk, and by others to be 

 yellowish or straw - coloured, like the thin 

 pus of -sores. It was likewise described as 

 bloody water. When at their height they were 

 about the size of a pea. One very intelligent 

 lady, who had witnessed its effects in several 

 of the blacks, informed me the eruption was very 

 like the cow-pock. The greater number of per- 

 sons who had watched its progress, and who 

 had likewise seen the small-pox in England, 

 pronounced it to be that disorder. Scabs formed 

 and fell off at different periods, in different 

 cases, according to the length of time occupied 

 by the maturation of the vesicles or pustules ; 

 these were occasionally confluent on the nose 

 and cheeks, and frequently left permanent marks 

 or indentations on the skin. 



Its usual duration is stated to have been 

 from a fortnight to three weeks in cases of re- 

 storation to health ; but even after the erup- 

 tion had entirely subsided, and the disease 

 might be considered over, the convalescents 



