230 EDWARD JENNER 



what I am now about to communicate to be of some im- 

 portance, I imagine it cannot be uninteresting to you, espe- 

 cially as it will serve to corroborate your assertion of the 

 susceptibility of the human system of the variolous con- 

 tagion, although it has previously been made sensible of its 

 action. In November, 1793, I was desired to inoculate a 

 person with the smallpox. I took the variolous matter 

 from a child under the disease in the natural way, who 

 had a large burthen of distinct pustules. The mother of 

 the child being desirous of seeing my method of communi- 

 cating the disease by inoculation, after having opened a 

 pustule, I introduced the point of my lancet in the usual way 

 on the back part of my own hand, and thought no more of 

 it until I felt a sensation in the part which reminded me 

 of the transaction. This happened upon the third day; on 

 the fourth there were all the appearances common to inocu- 

 lation, at which I was not at all surprised, nor did I feel 

 myself uneasy upon perceiving the inflammation continue to 

 increase to the sixth and seventh day, accompanied with a 

 very small quantity of fluid, repeated experiments having 

 taught me it might happen so with persons who had under- 

 gone the disease, and yet would escape any constitutional 

 affection ; but I was not so fortunate ; for on the eighth day 

 I was seized with all the symptoms of the eruptive fever, 

 but in a much more violent degree than when I was before 

 inoculated, which was about eighteen years previous to 

 this, when I had a considerable number of pustules. I 

 must confess I was now greatly alarmed, although I had 

 been much engaged in the smallpox, having at different 

 times inoculated not less than two thousand persons. I 

 was convinced my present indisposition proceeded from the 

 insertion of the variolous matter, and, therefore, anxiously 

 looked for an eruption. On the tenth day I felt a very un- 

 pleasant sensation of stillness and heat on each side of my 

 face near my ear, and the fever began to decline. The af- 

 fection in my face soon terminated in three or four pustules 

 attended with inflammation, but which did not maturate, and 

 I was presently well. 



"I remain, dear sir, etc., 



"THOMAS MILES." 





