ERUPTIVE FEVERS. 163 



in that of inoculation, there may be occasion for studying 

 the conduct of this disease, in all its possible varying cir- 

 cumstances. 



DCXVII. When, from the prevailing of smallpox as an 

 epidemic, and more especially when it is known that a person 

 not formerly affected with the disease has been exposed to the 

 infection, if such person should be seized with the symptoms of 

 fever, there can be little doubt of its being an attack of the 

 smallpox ; and therefore he is to be treated in every respect as 

 if the disease had been received by inoculation. He is to be 

 freely exposed to a cool air, to be purged, and to have cooling 

 acids given liberally. 



" It has been frequently observed, that an obstructed perspira- 

 tion has occasioned a diarrhoea. If this change of distribution, 

 therefore, is in general the nature of the economy, it will be 

 readily understood," why purging, by increasing the afflux of 

 blood to the internal, should diminish that to the external parts, 

 or to the surface of the body, and that it should therefore have 

 considerable effects in many cutaneous diseases. Whenever 

 these depend upon any inflammatory determination to the sur- 

 face of the body, purging may be a remedy for them : and 

 when it is foreseen that, in certain diseases, such an inflamma- 

 tory determination to the skin is to arise ; and according to its 

 violence to aggravate the disease, it will be evident, that purg- 

 ing, by moderating or taking off that determination, may render 

 the disease more moderate. This I take to be the foundation 

 of the practice of purging in the approach and beginning of the 

 smallpox; and I have no doubt, that this, in concurring with other 

 measures, contributes to the mildness of the disease. M.M. 



DCXVIII. If these measures moderate the fever, nothing 

 more is necessary : but if the nature of the fever attacking a 

 person be uncertain ; or if, with suspicions of the smallpox, the 

 symptoms of the fever be violent ; or even if, knowing the 

 disease to be smallpox, the measures mentioned (DXLVII.) 

 shall not moderate the fever sufficiently ; it will be proper to 

 let some blood : and this will be more especially proper if the 

 person be an adult, of a plethoric habit, and accustomed to full 

 living. 



DC XIX. In the same circumstances, we judge it will be 



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