162 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



also ; which is, that we have found a more powerful and effect- 

 ual one in the application of cold air, and the use of cold drink. 

 Whatever doubts or difficulties our theory might present to us 

 ou this subject, they may be entirely neglected, as the practice 

 of Indostan had long ago, and the practice of this country has 

 very lately, by a large and repeated experience, ascertained the 

 safety and efficacy of this remedy ; and as it may and can be 

 more certainly employed with the practicetof inoculation, than 

 it can be in cases of common infection, it must give a singular 

 advantage to the former. 



DC XV. After the eruption, when a few pimples only have 

 appeared on the face, the continuing the application of cold air, 

 and the employment of purgatives, has indeed been the prac- 

 tice of many inoculators ; but I think these practices cannot be 

 said to give any peculiar advantages to inoculation ; for* when 

 the state of the eruption is determined, when the number of 

 pustules is very small, and the fever has entirely ceased, I hold 

 the safety of the disease to be absolutely ascertained, and the 

 further use of remedies entirely superfluous. In such cases, I 

 judge the use of purgatives to be not only unnecessary, but that 

 they may be often hurtful. 



DCXVI. I have thus considered the several circumstances 

 and practices accompanying inoculation, and have endeavour- 

 ed to ascertain the utility and importance of each. Upon the 

 whole, I hope I have sufficiently ascertained the general utility 

 and great advantage of this practice, especially consisting in 

 this, that if certain precautions, preparations, and remedies, are 

 of importance, all of them can be employed with more certainty 

 in the practice of inoculation, than in the case of common in- 

 fection. 



It remains now that I should offer some remarks on the con- 

 duct of the smallpox, as received by infection, or even when, 

 after inoculation, the symptoms shall prove violent. The latter 

 sometimes happens, although every precaution and remedy have 

 been employed. The cause of this is not well known ; but it 

 appears to me to be commonly owing to a disposition of the 

 fluids to putrescency. But, however this may be, it will ap- 

 pear, that not only in the case of common infection, but even 



