186 EDWARD JENNER 



pose that the persons were perfectly safe from future 

 fection. Inflammation in every case took place in the arm, 

 and fever came on with a considerable degree of pain in the 

 axilla. In some of their arms the inflammation and suppura- 

 tion were more violent than is commonly observed when per- 

 fect matter is made use of; in one there was an ulcer which 

 cast off several large sloughs. About the ninth day eruptions 

 appeared, which died away earlier than common without ma- 

 turation. From these circumstances I should suppose that no 

 medical practitioner would scarcely have entertained a doubt 

 but that these patients had been infected with a true small- 

 pox; yet I must confess that some small degree of doubt pre- 

 sented itself to me at the speedy disappearance of the erup- 

 tions; and in order, as far as I could, to ascertain their 

 safety, I sent one of them to a much older practitioner than 

 myself. This gentleman, on hearing the circumstances of 

 the case, pronounced the patient perfectly secure from future 

 infection. 



" The following facts are also a striking proof of the 

 truth of your observations on this subject: 



" In the year 1789 I inoculated three children of Mr. 

 Coaley, of Hurst farm in this county. The arms inflamed 

 properly, fever and pain in the axillae came on precisely 

 the same as in the former cases, and in ten days eruptions 

 appeared, which disappeared in the course of two days. I 

 must observe that the matter here made use of was pro- 

 cured for me by a friend; but no doubt it was in an im- 

 proper state ; for, from the similarity of these cases to those 

 which happened at Arlingham five years before, I was some- 

 what alarmed for their safety, and desired to inoculate them 

 again: which being permitted, I was particularly careful to 

 procure matter in its most perfect state. All the children 

 took the smallpox from this second inoculation, and all 

 had a very full burthen. These facts I conceive strikingly 

 corroborate your opinion relative to the different states 

 of matter; for in both instances that I have mentioned it 

 was capable of producing something strongly resembling 

 the true smallpox, although it afterwards proved not to 

 be so. 



" As I think the communication of these cases is a duty 





