[ 237 1 
Thefe two Hiflories evince, that the Child before 
Birth, though clofeiy defended from the external Air, 
and enveloped by Fluids and Membranes of its own, 
is not fecure from the variolous Infection, though 
its Mother has had the Diftemper before. They de- 
monftrate the very great Subtility of the variolous 
Effluvia; as we find them capable either from their 
floating in the Air, and by their being taken in by 
the Inspiration of the Mother, or by penetrating the 
abforbent Velfels upon her Skin, and thus mixing 
with her Blood, of exerting their Effafts upon the 
Child : And we may obferve further from the fir ft 
of thefe Cafes, that it is pofflble for the Child to live 
through the Small Pox before its Birth j as well as 
that after that Period under the before-mentioned 
Circumftances it is not liable to the Infection a°;ain. 
The following Hiftory is equally remarkable with 
the preceding. 
A Lady of high Birth and Quality now living, 
well known to feveral Members of this learned Bo- 
dy, had the Small Pox to a great Degree when 
feven Months gone with Child notwithftanding 
which fhe went her Time and was delivered of a 
Son, who did not appear to have upon his Body 
any Marks of the Diftemper. As this Lady had been 
feverely handled by the Small Pox, it was judged 
that her Child would never after be liable thereto s 
nevertheless when about four or five Years old, he 
was attacked with the Diftemper, but got very well 
through it, and is now alive. 
A Cafe in fome refpefts refemblingthislaft is taken. 
Notice of by Mauriceau *, who delivered a Woman 
of 
* See Mauriceau fur les maladies des femmes grcjfts, Cafe 576,. 
