REASONS againſt the Practice of Inoculating the Small-Pox.

TO give an Account of the Small-Pox, or to run through the diffe⯑rent Sorts and Stages of it, would be too tedious at preſent; and which having been already done by Men of Eminency in the Profeſſion of Phyſick, it would be Preſumption [8]and Trifling in me, to offend by a leſs perfect Account of my own.

THIS Epidemical contagious Diſeaſe, contracted from the In⯑ſpiration of Air heterogene to our Bodies, betrays itſelf by Pains of the Back and Head, Weari⯑neſs in the Limbs, Vomitings, &c. uſually two or three Days before the Eruption of the Puſ⯑tules; after which, for the moſt part, the Patient feels a Remiſ⯑ſion of Symptoms: and the kind Maturation of the Puſtules generally frees the infected Per⯑ſon in twelve or fourteen Days, unleſs ſomething unexpected ſuc⯑ceeds. In this Diſtemper, Nature labours with all her Force, to clear the Blood of the Poiſon, till by degrees ſhe drives it from the Center to the Surface, and [9]effects an univerſal Depuration: but how far this laudable Work will be carried on by the new Method of Ingrafting or Inocu⯑lating, ſhall be our next Conſi⯑deration.

IN order to which, we will preſume the Infection of the or⯑dinary way to be with the Air firſt admitted into the Lungs, whence, by the common Circle of the Blood, by degrees it per⯑vades the whole Body; which Pollution being thus gradually introduced, occaſions not ſuch mighty Revels in the Blood, as to take off one in twenty, unleſs a more Malignant Sort than uſual (God be praiſed) rages in our Clime; and then I fear the In⯑oculation of ſuch a one would prove as dangerous to us as the worſt of the accidental. And [10]unleſs the preſent Method was wholly void of any fatal Symp⯑toms, and the Patient entirely ſecure in the Experiment, ( ^* of which we have had a late melan⯑cholly Inſtance to the contrary) it would be the higheſt Piece of Raſhneſs and Cruelty to give up our Children Sacrifices to the fond Deluſion of averting an Ill that may be, by the Anticipation of it at preſent, when the Pro⯑ſpect of a good Event in this, is as uncertain as it may prove to them in any Period of Life from the other; nay, perhaps the long⯑eſt may be ſpun without the Tryal of it at all.

THE inſtilling of Poiſon into a Wound has always been ac⯑counted [11]the moſt deſtructive of any; for though the Blood thus fermented may betray itſelf in the ſhape of the Small-Pox, yet it has always a Reſort to a poi⯑ſonous Fountain, from which it every Moment receives new Sup⯑plies: and as by degrees the ve⯑nomous Particles in the Wound begin to abate of their Fury, the Symptoms become more lan⯑guid, which though incapable to excite the higheſt Diſorders, yet in their Return may create Ob⯑ſtructions in the ſmaller Veſſels of the Groins, Arm-pits, Joints, &c. the Conſequences of which are frequently greater than the Diſeaſe itſelf, and ſometimes in⯑curable.

WHICH brings to my Memo⯑ry an Experiment of a Pretender to Phyſick, whoſe Ability conſiſ⯑ted [12]in a Secret to fortify the Sto⯑mach againſt the Attacks of the moſt malignant Poiſon: The Curioſity of the Populace ſoon eas'd him of his Packets, in which was found this plain Di⯑rection, Take this, you'll want no other; and indeed he ſpoke Truth: for the Patient whoſe Stupidity led him to the Tryal, narrowly eſcaped with Life; of which, if he makes a Repetition, he juſtly deſerves to loſe it. However, the Quack got what he wanted, and the Peoples Safe⯑ty was the leaſt of his Con⯑cern.

IT is very obſervable in Pha⯑gedenical Ulcers, when at any time they appear dryer than ordinary, that the leaſt Portion of Matter lick'd up by the Veſ⯑ſels, excites Fevers, Frenzies, and [13]other direful Symptoms; and if Nature is not compenſated by ſome critical Swelling, or other Evacuation, the Patient dies: in whom oftentimes the Liver, Spleen, Pancreas, are ſo affected, as to become monſtrouſly big and knotty. How then can we determine for the Infuſion of this Poiſon, that it ſhall not pro⯑duce the like Effects? There is a wide Difference between extra⯑vaſated Matter in a State of Di⯑geſtion, and the Poiſon of the Blood not yet thrown out: the former, as the Yeaſt or Flowers of fermented Liquors, will in the ſmalleſt Proportion ſubdue large Quantities; when the other whilſt it maintains its common Courſe with the Blood, receives conſtant Checks from the repeat⯑ed Additions of that Liquor, and the ſeveral Ways of Evacuation; [14]as is evident from ſome Inſtances of the Small-Pox, where the Skin is ſo ſparingly beſet with Pim⯑ples, as not to exceed five or ſix in number, and yet the Pa⯑tient as ſecure from a ſecond Infection as thoſe who have ſuf⯑fered from a Redundancy of them. Yet even in theſe, when there ſhall happen a Recall of that Matter, though inconſide⯑rable in Quantity, the worſt of Symptoms ariſe, and Death often⯑times follows.

THE Degrees of Activity in the Poiſon of this Diſtemper, will vary much, according to the Degrees of Exaltation it may receive from the different Jui⯑ces of different Conſtitutions, the Stimulus of which will in ſome be more pointed, and in others leſs; and the Injuries ſuc⯑ceeding, [15]of courſe will be ade⯑quate to the Nature of theſe Spi⯑cula or Darts, ſo inimical to the Craſis of our Blood.

WE find in the Poiſon of the Viper, when thoroughly pro⯑voked to an Emiſſion of it, the Salts of that Liquor to be ſo obdurate and inflexible, that un⯑leſs ſome of the Fat of that Ani⯑mal be inſtantly inſtill'd into the Wound made by his Teeth, no Remedy proves equal to the Cure; and if perchance the Pa⯑tient ſurvives the Accident, I dare be bold to ſay, a ſecond Attack would prove as fatal as the firſt.

PERHAPS it may be reply'd, That it is peculiar to the Small-Pox to affect us but once; in⯑deed Experience happily de⯑clares [16]this Truth; for were we ſubject to the Repetition of it, Life would prove a Burden: and we might well with St. Paul ſay, Of all, we are the moſt Wretched. But how far this new Exhibition of it will agree with the accidental Infection, ſhall be our next Task.

THE rendring a Wound in any part of the Body, and in⯑flaming the ſame with a poi⯑ſonous Juice, till by the Irrita⯑tion of it, each Fibril becomes ſo fretted, as to produce an Ul⯑cer, is a dangerous Experiment; for that, whatſoever Blood is ſent to that Part, will be changed into the Nature of the Leaven in the Sore, which may furniſh it with greater Supplies than the Conſtitution can bear, the Ran⯑cour of which increaſing every [17]Moment in proportion to the Ferment made there, the Symp⯑toms will haſten according to the Addition receiv'd, that if a kind Maturation enſues not in a ſta⯑ted time, the Part thus wounded may be in danger of a Gan⯑grene, and the Malignancy of the Sore ſo complicated, as to communicate the Corruption of the one, and the Infection of the other, at the ſame time. From whence I need not prog⯑noſticate the Event, which would but too evidently infer Death, or at leaſt the Loſs of that Mem⯑ber.

WHEN in the natural Way the Matter is gradually thrown out, and is contained under the Skin, where it forms to itſelf diſtinct Eminencies or Puſtules, receiving their common Capſule [18]from the Cutis, or true Skin; which puſhing forwards, the more watery or thin Subſtance tran⯑ſpires, and raiſes the Cuticula in⯑to the like Protuberances, that you may plainly diſcern a Pock contained in a Pock; that in the Cutis holding the groſſeſt Sub⯑ſtance, and moſt fitted for Di⯑geſtion, according to the In⯑creaſe of which, is the Bulk of the other. Which Contrivance is admirable; for that the Cold⯑neſs of the Air frequently damps the more ſuperficial Appearances, which ſink and flatten, when by the Uſe of warm Internals, the inward ones revive, and both are renew'd afreſh; at laſt the thin⯑ner Part is perſpired, and the thicker left to incruſtate and ſhell off, without any Fears of freſh Supplies of Infection. Na⯑ture having by this kind Suppu⯑ration [19]finiſhed her Work, when in the inoculated Way, the Sore ſhall continue for Weeks after the Pox, and not without Diffi⯑culty heal at laſt. And though the Blood be diſpirited and bro⯑ken from its late Conflict, as not eaſily to admit a ſecond, or to occaſion the ſame Velocity or Heat, yet ſuch Impreſſions may be made on it, as to diſpoſe it for Swellings on the Joints, Shoulders, Groins, and other Parts; Conſequences confeſſed by Dr. Nettleton, in his Book to Dr. Whittaker, to have happen'd.

IT is certain that Poiſon lick'd up by the Veſſels from a Wound, will ever produce Effects an⯑ſwerable to its Nature; and thoſe Puſtules thrown out by this new Method, are but ſo many Efforts induſtriouſly made to expel the [20]Enemy; which Method, as of⯑ten as renew'd, will cauſe the ſame Symptoms either to thoſe who have ſuffered by the natural or artificial Pox, as has been ex⯑perienced on a Patient at St. Thomas's Hoſpital; who though he had had them, yet labour'd with the uſual Symptoms of their new Method. Nor can Reaſon juſti⯑fy the contrary; for the Condi⯑tion of this Matter, thus infuſed, will always be the ſame; that unleſs we could ſuppoſe ſome ſingular Vertue to remain in the Blood as a proper Antagoniſt, it would be abſurd to think them ſecure from a ſecond In⯑ſection, any more than that the Transſuſion of the Blood or Matter of a venereal pocky Per⯑ſon into a ſound Habit, ſhould ſecure him from any future A⯑mour with Impunity. What [21]though the Symptoms may ape thoſe of the Small-Pox, and the Protuberances of the Skin bear a near Reſemblance, yet the Way of Communication differs much. Here the Blood is ſated with a groſs tenacious Matter, impregnated with the moſt en⯑venom'd Salts, which will neceſ⯑ſarily create Obſtructions in the Capillary Veſſels; from whence thoſe Pains in the Head: And as the Circulation becomes leſs free, the Veſſels will be more turgid, till by degrees the Preſ⯑ſure affects the Nerves, and the Pains of the Back enſue; which are Symptoms not uncommon to other Diſtempers, and can be no certain Proof of this.

BESIDES, theſe inoculated Puſtules are thrown out in the manner of thoſe proceeding [22]from Wines mingled with Arſe⯑nick, where the Quantity has been too ſmall immediately to offend the Stomach and Guts, which being mixed with the Blood, innumerable Puſtules of bad Aſpect, of a fiery red kind, ariſe like the inocu [...]ated ones, having no regular Increaſe, or ſtated Period for their Declen⯑ſion; but depend wholly on the contaminated Fountain (I mean the Wound) to determine both. While thoſe of the natural ſort are ſlowly ejected, and contain at firſt a Latex, or thin watry Sub⯑ſtance, which, from the Heat of the Part, thickens, and converts to Pus uſually in the ſpace of nine D [...]y [...] being covered with a thin and fine Pellicle. Theſe In⯑oculated, are at firſt produced from Blood, and are of a hard Subſtance; which ſhows the [23]manner of their Propagation to be different from the others; and poſſibly the Symptoms from this inſuſed Poiſon, no more than what might have enſu'd from the Infuſion of any other: that it may be juſtly queſtioned, Whe⯑ther this artificial Pox ſo ſquares with the natural one, as to de⯑ſerve the ſame Appellation; much leſs, from the Mode of its Operation, ſhould it ſecure to us the Bleſſing of having it but once. Beſides, the fortui⯑tous Contraction of this Diſtem⯑per being from infected Air, the Veſicles of the Lungs may be⯑come ſo altered and changed, as to their Texture, as not to ſuffer Violence from the ſame venenate Effluvia a ſecond time: which cannot be ſaid of a ſermented Matter admitted into the Blood by a Sore, that at any time it [24]ſhould prove innocent, though the ſame were repeated after a Recovery.

WE will now recite the Symptoms of this inoculated Pox, as ſet down by Dr. Nettleton in his Book to Dr. Whittaker, and ſhow how inconſiſtent to Rea⯑ſon and Self-Preſervation the Experiment is.

Violent Fevers, Convulſive Fits.

Face and Throat ſwell'd.

Vomitings, and other bad Symp⯑toms before the Eruptions.

Swellings on the Shoulders, Thighs, and Inguinal Glands, af⯑ter the Small-Pox was off; with more, too tedious here to be in⯑ſerted.

CONSIDER a little this Train of Symptoms, not inferiour to any of the worſt ſort from the common Way; yet in a ſound and healthy State, by the mer⯑cenary and cunning Artifice of ſome, Wretches are perſuaded to change their ſound Condition for a diſeas'd; their Expectation of one day falling ill, for a cer⯑tain Sickneſs now, under pre⯑tence of future Security: as if a Perſon labouring with the Tooth-ach ſhould adviſe his Friend to the drawing of his, leſt one Day he may fall under the like Predicament, the timely Extrac⯑tion of which would have pre⯑vented it; which though not equal in its Conſequence, yet altoge⯑ther as abſurd to enforce the Practice.

WE have ſeen South-Sea Schemes, good Parliaments, Bills for preventing the Plague; heard of Plots: but, till now, never dreamt that Mankind would in⯑duſtriouſly plot to their own Ruin, and barter Health for Diſ⯑eaſes. Nay, what is worſe, give up little Innocents a Prey to, the moſt calamitous Ill, from a wrong judged Indulgence of averting a worſe; who, could they anſwer for themſelves, I queſtion not but would leave Time and Providence to deter⯑mine better for them. Would it not be egregiouſly abſurd in a Soldier, whoſe Life perchance in a Battle might fall a Sacrifice to his Country, firſt to requeſt his Comrade to ſeaſon him a⯑gainſt Powder and Ball, by ma⯑king [27]Experiments at him at ſome Diſtance?

THE Life of every one thus inoculated, is as emirently in danger, as in thoſe who ſuffer from it the accidental Way; as appears by the Symptoms enu⯑merated by Dr. Nettleton to Dr. Whittaker; and the Continuance of it much longer, though per⯑chance the poiſonous Wound ſhould occaſion no worſe Ills than uſually expected. And that the Inclinations of Mankind ſhould prompt them to throw a Dye for their Lives, when no Neceſſity obliges, becauſe there is a Poſſibility of ſurviving the Chance, is Matter of the great⯑eſt Admiration: ſed Gens mi⯑ſerrima ad omne malum praeceps fertur. Our Condition is deſpe⯑rate, [28]and theſe Gentlemen, theſe new Operators are kindly fur⯑niſhing us with Materials for our Diſpatch: Which that Pro⯑vidence may put a ſtop to, are the hearty Prayers of the Pub⯑lick's Wellwiſher and Friend,