( «°t ) 
this to be any Thing fo dangerous $ but was foon after 
convinced of his Miftake, the Diftemper feizing him and 
bis Family, of which himfelf, his Wife, and all his Chil- 
dren died. 
After I had made this Inquiry into the State of the 
Hofpital, confidering the Fatigue the difeharge of this 
Office would oblige me to, and that it was impoffiblefor 
me to undertake the Care of other Patients, fo as to do 
for both what Neceflity might require, I excufed my 
felf to the Governors, and declined the Charge. From 
this time the Malady and Number of Patients daily in- 
creafed, and moftly in the outer Parts and Suburbs 
of the Town, which proved very troublesome to the 
Phyficians. 
J une 2 6. My Daughter of about fix Years and a half 
old, began to complain of an unufual Head-ach. I 
prefentjy gave her fome Bezoardick Drops, with Vola- 
tile Cephalick Spirits. In four Hours after flae was much 
alter’d, her Eves (fared, her Extream Parts were diftended, 
and violent Convulfions enfued, tho’ they did not con- 
tinue long ; but afterwards (he lay as if (he was Paraly- 
tick, and could not be made fenfible* VVhatfoever Me- 
dicines we m de ufe of, avail’d nothing , fo that (he died 
the third Day following. The fame Day alfo my Wife 
fell dangeroufly ill ^ but in a few Days got paft the word: $ 
and tho’ (he was confined to her Bed a long time, yet 
with the Affiftanceof other Phyficians, (heat laft happi- 
ly recover’d. 
This for fome time brought an ill Repute upon my 
Foufe, as if it wa3 infe&ed with the Plague, and was 
very detrimental to my Practice, every Body being afraid 
to make ufe of me 5 but the Malady increafing, I daily 
regained my Practice, tho’ all the Efforts I could make I 
found were too weak to refift the violent Progrefs of 
fuch a Diftemper : For one might daily perceive how the 
P Poifon 
