

HRHBS 



40 



THK COW-POX. 



were told that the disorder was not infectious, 

 and consequently no precautions were taken in 

 separating those who were under its influence 

 from the other inmates of the same cottage. 

 Soon afterwards an elderly woman, the attendant 

 of a child who had been inoculated, fell sick 

 and died, and other persons were likewise af- 

 flicted with the same disorder. The infection 

 spread, and ten or twelve persons died of it in 

 the island. The evil indeed was only stopped 

 by the inoculation of great numbers of the inha- 

 bitants. It was observed that none of the indi- 

 viduals who had been inoculated had been in 

 danger, and therefore it was soon seen that the 

 wisest plan was to undergo the operation. A 

 fewJiowever were so much alarmed at the fate 

 of some of their acquaintances, that they lived 

 for many days in the woods, scarcely visiting 

 any habitation of man in the dread of infection. 

 It was proved that the small-pox did not exist 

 at that time upon the island, for every enquiry 

 was made, — much pains were taken by many 

 persons of zeal and activity to certify that this 

 was the case ; and indeed when that dreadful 

 malady appears in any neighbourhood, the whole 

 country round is alarmed, and every precaution 

 is taken to prevent communication. Now, it 

 was generally said that either the boys who had 

 been sent to Recife were inoculated with the 

 small-pox instead of the cow-pox, or that the 



