6o ACCOUNT of a DISTEMPER 



The hiftory of the mumps is as follows : 



A lassitude, a heavinefs, a general reftlefs uneafinefs, not 

 eafily defcribed, are perceived feveral days before the fwelling 

 which characterifes the difeafe, begins to appear. Thefe difa- 

 greeable feelings are attended with gentle rigors, and fome 

 degree of fever, which, being flight, is commonly difregarded. 

 Then a ftiffnefs, with obtufe pain, is felt in one or both fides of 

 the articulation of the lower jaw, impeding its motion and of 

 courfe maftication ; which fymptoms increasing, a fwelling 

 appears upon the parts the following day, and quickly extends 

 to the parotid glands, the neighbouring fkin, and cellular mem- 

 brane. Here, in fome, it flops without difcolouring the fkin ; 

 and, by keeping the parts moderately warm, and cautioully 

 avoiding the cold external air, the patient is foon freed from it, 

 without any medical afliftance. But, when this is not the cafe, 

 the parts affected generally redden the next day, the tumor be- 

 comes more diffufed, and fometimes increafes fo fuddenly in 

 fize, that, on the third day from its firft appearance, it occupies 

 the falivary glands and furrounding cellular membrane on that 

 fide : and, if both fides are affected, the parts are fo much 

 fwelled, and the tumor defcends fo low, that the countenance is 

 rendered of a frightful enormous magnitude ; and now deglu- 

 tition becomes more or lefs impeded. All this is frequently 

 without much pain j but moft commonly there is now a great 

 deal, and a confiderable degree of fever. When this happens, 

 the countenance appears florid, and a dufky erysipelatous in- 

 flammation covers the tumor, which is deepefl in colour where 

 there is the greateft hardnefs, viz. on the parotid and maxillary 

 glands. In many fubjecls here it ends. And it feems proba- 

 ble from the natural refolution of the difeafe, which now im- 

 mediately follows, that the tumor has attained its greateft mag- 

 nitude, 



