( ^^7 ) 
Vni. J Letter on the fame Suhjed^^ from Mr. Ri- 
chard Wright, Surgeon at Haverford Weft, to 
Mr. Sylvanus Bevan, Apothecary in London. 
I Received yours the 9th inllant, and, in Anfwer to 
it, will readily give you all the Satisfadlion I can, 
in relation to a very antient Cuftom in this Country ; 
commonly called buying the Small which, upon 
a ftrid: Inquiry, fmce I had your Letter, I find to be 
a common Practice, and of very long Handing ; being 
afTured by Perfbns of unqueflionable Veracity, and 
of advanced Age, that they have had the Small Pox 
communicated to themfelves this way, when about 
fixteen or feventeen Yeai'S of Age, they then being 
very capable of diftinguifliing that Diftemper from any 
other; and that they have parted with, the Matter 
contain’d in the Puflules to others, producing the fame 
Effed:s. There are two large Villages in this County 
near the Harbour of Milford., more famous for this 
Cuftom than any other, namely, St. IJhmael's and 
Marloes. The old Inhabitants of thofe Villages, (with 
which they abound, being in a healthful Situation) 
lay, that it has been a common Practice with them 
time out of mind ; and what was more remarkable, 
one William Allen ^ of St. Ijhmael\ ninety Y ears of 
Age, (who died about fix Months ago or thereabouts) 
declared to fome Perfans of good Senfe and Integrity, 
that this Pracftice was ufed all his Time ; that he very 
well remember’d his Mother’s telling him, that it was 
a common Pradice all her Time, and that fhe got the 
Small Pox that way, Thefe, together with the many 
othcj&; 
