208 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 17 16. 



was experienced in the business. Three days after, when the author was again 

 at his friend's house, and while they were both engaged in conversation on this 

 subject, there was shown into the room a Greek, woman, who explained to 

 them the whole of the process. She referred to a vast number of cases in 

 proof of the safety and success of this practice. Some of these cases (for in so 

 large a city it was not possible to examine them all) the author found, on in- 

 quiry, to be exactly as she had stated. After duly considering all the circum- 

 stances, it appeared to him, that there was nothing irrational or absurd in this 

 practice. Accordingly a few days afterwards, when his friend pressed him more 

 earnestly for his opinion, he said, with some hesitation, that he did not object 

 to the operation ; whereupon this nobleman ventured to have his 4 sons inocu- 

 lated by the beforementioned Greek woman. The 3 younger, who were from 

 5 to 7 years of age, were but slightly indisposed. A few eruptions appeared on 

 the 7th day, after which the fever went off and they got well ; but the elder, 

 who was turned 18, was extremely ill. He had a continued malignant fever, 

 accompanied with some alarming symptoms and a considerable eruption. He 

 was ill for a fortnight ; but at length recovered.* In consequence of this suc- 

 cess, it is surprising how many families among the nobility were induced to fol- 

 low this example ; so that at the present time all but a very few timid persons 

 among them (the Greeks) avail themselves of the benefit afforded by this dis- 

 covery. The Turks alone, so addicted are they to their predestinarian notions, 

 and so rivetted to ancient prejudices, neglect to reap any advantage from it. 



There is nothing of trick or imposture in this operation, as in the pretended 

 sympathetic cures mentioned by Tentzelius, Bartholine, Maxwell, EtmuUer, &c. 

 On the contrary the transplantation of the small-pox is effected by a medium or 

 substance, perceptible to the touch, as well as to the sight. It consists simply 

 in the insertion into a healthy body, by small wounds or punctures made on 

 purpose, of a fermentum morbificum or pus taken from small-pox eruptions. 

 The pus introduced into the wounded parts puts on the nature of a real fer- 

 ment ; and being carried by the circulation into the mass of blood, excites 

 therein (as the author supposes) an universal ebullition, by means of which the 

 more impure and heterogeneous particles are separated from the rest and thrown 

 out, by a crisis, upon the skin; and all this is effected, by virtue of this opera- 

 tion, without much accompanying indisposition. 



After these preliminary remarks. Dr. Pylarini proceeds to describe the opera- 

 tion as performed by the aforesaid Greek woman, together with all the circum- 



* Dr. Pylarini supposes that the severe form under which the disorder appeared in the elder son 

 wa« owing to his bad habit of body, and the neglect of due preparation. 



