156 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



termine the variolous matter to stick in it, is a certain state of 

 inflammation, depending much upon the heat of it. Thus we 

 have many instances of parts of the body, from being more 

 heated, having a greater number of pustules than other parts. 

 In the present practice of inoculation, in which few pustules are 

 produced, much seems to be owing to the care that is taken to 

 keep the skin cool. " I have had frequent occasion to observe, 

 that in infants always carried in a woman's arms, the cheek 

 which was next to the woman, had more pustules than the other 

 which was exposed to the air : where the nurses are careful, this 

 may not appear. We have several observations to this purpose 

 from Dr. Baker ; as of a person attacked with smallpox, who, 

 being in the ordinary sluggish way and sensible to the chilliness 

 of the air, lay down on a couch before a great fire, with one 

 side exposed to the heat ; on this side he had a great num- 

 ber of pustules, and on the other but very few. A blacksmith 

 had his bed at the back of his forge, where there is a great heat. 

 Upon that side he had a great number of pustules, and on the 

 other very few." Parts covered with plasters, especially with 

 those of a stimulant kind, have more pustules than other parts. 

 Further, certain circumstances, such as adult age and full liv- 

 ing, determining to a phlogistic diathesis, seem to produce a 

 greater number of pustules ; while the contrary circumstances 

 have contrary effects. " In this way I account for the pustules 

 being more numerous in adults than in infants ; the adult state 

 being more liable to the phlogistic diathesis, they have the 

 (smallpox more violently, and more adults die in proportion than 

 infants. Another circumstance, which proves how much de- 

 pends on the phlogistic diathesis is an observation of Dr. Win- 

 tringham, that the smallpox become more frequent, and more 

 persons are affected in proportion to the season's disposing to 

 other inflammatory diseases. 



" We have to add that there are other circumstances determin- 

 ing the nature of the fever and the number of pustules. Thus 

 the concurrence of fear, cold, intemperance, and other such oc- 

 casional causes, renders the pustules more numerous. It is a 

 matter of the most certain observation that these occasional 

 causes, concurring with a contagion of any kind, render the dis- 



