A NEW ESSAY ON THE SMALL-POX.
Price Six-Pence.
A NEW ESSAY ON THE SMALL-POX. WITH A View to preserve This NATION from the
Infection
of that
Distemper.
Humbly address'd to the LEGISLATURE, the PHYSICIANS, and Inhabitants of
GREAT-BRITAIN.
By ***** **** M. D.
Magna voluisse sat est.
Salus Populi suprema Lex.
LONDON:
Printed for J. ROBERTS, near the
Oxford-Arms
in
Warwick-Lane.
MDCCXXV.
A NEW ESSAY ON THE SMALL-POX.
E Very Person is sensible, how fatal the Disease I insist on, hath been these late Years; and perhaps there is not a Family in the Kingdom, that laments not the Spoils of it; which is sufficient to justify every honest Attempt, to free the Publick from such a Calamity.
I shall not enter into the Dispute about Inoculation, which is now on the Carpet; by reason what I have in my Views, is the superseding any Occasion for that Operation; which, if it could be obtain'd, must, on many Accounts, be preferr'd to the general Practice of it; and render it more safe in the few Instances, wherein, after all, it may be esteem'd proper.
In order to introduce this Proposal, I think it necessary to observe what gave me the first Hint, and is the real Foundation of it;
viz. That the Distemper it self is both of a Foreign Extract, and of a late Origin.
There are some Parts of the World entirely unacquainted with it at this Day; and we are assur'd, one Quarter of it (viz.
America
) was so, till the
Spaniards
subdued it; when, by the Infection of a Negro, this cruel Disease spread it self among the Natives, and hath now almost extirpated great and populous Clans.
The old
Greek
and
Latin
Physicians had no Idea of this Disorder; For we have the first Descriptions of it from the
Arabian
Writers. I confess, we read of Eruptions in Fevers; and have Reason to think these obtain'd in ancient Time. I know not whether what we term the
Chicken-Pox,
may not be a proper critical Secretion of some Humours in Children; for they often affect them, without any previous Contagion, and are attended with no ill Consequence. But the
Moors
and
Arabs
(who, every Person knows, by their sordid, nasty way of Living, in a hot Climate, have turn'd common Fevers into Plagues;) have perhaps, in the same manner, given that malignant, contagious Efficacy, to those Mild and Natural Pustules.
From this Account of the Case, it must evidently follow, that the Distemper I now treat of,
is One Species of a Plague;
and therefore both
may,
and
ought,
in the same Manner, to be extirpated from the Nation.
The late Experiments of Inoculating it, confirm this Account; and, at the same Time, sufficiently demonstrate, how small a Seed, less than the Hundredth Part of a Grain, will produce a very plentiful Crop. It's true, this may differ very much, in regard of the Soil; which is a Consideration, in Favour of a Practice, that allows us a convenient Opportunity to prepare the Body, and to adjust both the Quantity and Situation of the Particles, that are thrown into it. But why shou'd we
generally
cultivate after this manner an
Eastern
Plant, that hath made such dreadful Havock among us? Especially since there is so much Reason to question, whether we could promise our selves that Success, if it were
universally
in Use: For, the Contagion must increase in Proportion to the Subjects; whereas, on the other hand, when the Disease hath left us, the few who (on the Account of Travelling, or Physick) may have leave to go through the Operation, will run less Hazard in it.
I confess, there will be a Difficulty in overcoming popular Prejudices, in Favour of these Disorders. They esteem them sent of God, for the Sins of Mankind; which is a pious Account of all our Afflictions. But when this Representation discourages the proper Endeavours to remove them; it hath generally been esteem'd, in other Cases, a criminal Abuse of the Doctrine. This is perfectly the Case in
Turkey;
where, for that Reason, their great Towns are no more free from the Plague, than ours are from the
Small-Pox.
But I have the Pleasure to observe, that
the Articles of the Church of England
prudently caution us against this Construction of the Sentence of Predestinanation;
which, for Curious and Carnal Persons to have before their Eyes,
is there said to be,
a great Downfall.
But I leave the Management of this Argument to our Divines.
When our People are well reconcil'd to the Religion of the Thing, there can, perhaps, be nothing more easy or safe, than to deliver us from the Infection. For, the Substance of my Proposal is but, in short,
To take the Method, that was insisted on as necessary to deliver us from the Plague, if it had been imported among us;
as we apprehended it might, from
Marseilles.
The Thing is then so far done, that I have Reason to hope, and say, A few Generations hence would enquire, what Sort of Distemper their Ancestors intended, by the Name of the
Small-Pox?
And when so great an Advantage may be procur'd by it; there can be nothing unkind, or difficult, only
in obliging the Attendants and Physicians, where the
Small-Pox
are, to perform a Sort of
Quarantain;
to bury the Furniture, and purify the Houses;
which is all that will be requir'd, and to which they will have sufficient Inducement to consent, if the Loss they sustain by it, is but supported by the Publick. I know not whether an
Office of Insurance
might not be establish'd for that Purpose: But this will be the Care of the Legislature, if our Physicians do but come into the Scheme: They are the only Persons that will suffer, in a profitable Branch of their Practice. But whatever some impudent Quacks may have in their View, I have the Assurance to say, The Gentlemen of the Faculty, upon the Principles of the New Philosophy, and the best Experience, will esteem this Proposal worthy their Consideration. They know very well, that when the Eruption is compleated, and the putrid Particles have fix'd on the Lungs, and vital Parts, the Event must be left to Nature; for there is little Room for the Exercise of the best Skill: And upon that Account, they must be pleas'd with an Expedient, that will secure their Art from the Tryals, that are vain in themselves, and often fatal to their Reputation. As for the Scandal of our Profession, the Men who have no Comfort but in Filth and Ordure, and are only Caterers for the Worms; I am not asham'd to confess, I have shew'd no regard to their mercenary Ends.
It is to the very Learned and Worthy-Body, I submit this Proposal; who will, I am persuaded, at least honourably treat a Plan, that is form'd upon the Practice of some of the Ancient Physicians, the Fathers and first Ornaments of this Science; who did not only consult particular Cases, but
deliver'd whole Nations at once from Plagues.
If the Method I have suggested appears to them as well calculated for this Purpose, as it's honestly design'd; I have no Reason to doubt the Approbation of Persons of such a generous and genteel Education, and whose Business is the Health of the People.
I know, the Fate of this Scheme will depend on their Representation of it; and therefore, by reason
The Royal College of Physicians
are best qualify'd to direct the Execution, I have not presum'd to offer the
particular Rules
that must be observ'd, and that will require the Sanction of the Legislature: It is what, I do not doubt, they will favour their Country with, if this Proposal is so happy as to come recommended by them.
His Most Sacred Majesty,
whom God long preserve; and Their
Royal Highnesses,
tho' they are now in no pain for the
Princes,
the young Hopes and Joys of these Realms; They have too much Regard for their People, not to encourage every Thing that may make them Happy and Healthful.
And I hope our
Nobility
and
Gentry
will esteem it too much a common Interest, to neglect this Proposal, if there is a Prospect (as, I think, there is a very good one) in this Way of being secure from this Distemper, and, at the same Time, from a Train of Evils and Ulcers, that generally attend the worst Sort of it. For why shou'd we cherish the cruel Brood of
Africa
or
Asia
in our Bowels, that have made those frightful Ravages among us, and entail this Poison on our Posterity, that was, perhaps, the Import of our Holy Wars in former Days?
How great must be the Happiness to observe the new Scenes arise, when a noisome Plague shall cease to
change our Countenances, and send us away, or to make us a Terror to our selves and others!
How desirable would it be, no more (unless by the special Commission of Heaven) to feel any of the Fury of it, filling our Graves, or spoiling our Features? We shou'd not then so frequently meet the dismal Scars, and indelible Characters, it hath left on almost every Face: But
Britain,
no longer inhabited by these Sort of
Picts,
would become
Fair Albion
once again.
Then, to use the sacred Stile,
may our Sons be as Plants grown up in their Youth;
they will always carry their first Bloom;
and our Daughters as Corner-stones, polish'd after the similitude of a Palace;
or, in our Language, more smooth and sparkling than the best-wrought Marble. Then would all the Domestick Virtues flourish: The Beautiful Mothers, secure of the Affection of their Husbands, wou'd convey the healthy Treasure to their Offspring: The Ladies wou'd shine in our Assemblies; and the Gentlemen soften, under their Influence, into every Virtue. Let future Ages tell the rest with Joy!
Full of this Project, I can't forbear imaging to my self the Acknowledgments of a whole Island; and every Person in it, contributing to make my Life easy and happy, who have in this Proposal studied to make theirs so.
POSTSCRIPT.
WHen I wrote this Scheme, I was very sensible of some considerable Objections, which a Learned Gentleman, who is a Glory to the Profession, did me the Honour to make to it: As,
That the Seeds of the
Small-Pox
are almost in every House, which hath made it the Disease of the Country.
But how much soever they are naturaliz'd to the Soil, and have diffus'd themselves in it; I have Reason to hope, Care and Industry might surmount this Difficulty. For, the Particles appear, by their slow Operation, not to have that Life and Action, which those have which constitute the Plague: If every House, therefore, in
Great Britain
(that is suspected) would but submit to
such a Purification
as the
Inspir'd Lawgiver
(I had almost said
Physician
) prescrib'd in another Species of a Plague,
Levit.
xiii. 47, 48, &c. and xiv. 33, &c. we might observe the happy Effects of it, not only in destroying the Vegetation of the Seeds of this Distemper, but of some others, which subsist in Rags and Dirt. In general, it must render the Nation more clean and healthful: And why should not a
Divine Law,
as far as it relates
immediately to Health,
lay us under a Moral Obligation now, where there is any Parity in the Case, as I apprehend in the present? Our Criticks may observe with Pleasure, the
Arabian
Physicians apply to the
Small-Pox
some of the Terms which occur in the
Arabick
Version of these Chapters. If it is said, The Priests were to execute the Sacred Order; it is, because
They
were the Ancient
Physicians.
But it is not my Business here to consider the typical Use of it.
I apprehend it will be urged, That after all this Care, when they are extirpated in one Place, they may possibly break out in another. It is what may be expected for some Time, and will only require a more constant Attendance on this Distemper through the whole Island: In which this Advantage will probably be gain'd; That whenever it does sprout in any Quarter, there will be the greatest Reason to expect, where the Soil is not too favourable, (if I may be allow'd to pursue a Figure that will best explain it to the common Reader) it will be a weak and tender Shoot, which we may easily weed out, and not one rank Crop upon another, as we sometimes experience now.
As for the Time that will be requir'd to accomplish all this; it can't be suppos'd I shou'd presume to determine it: For, our Physicians know, it was several Years before we were rid of the last Plague. It is sufficient, that the Affair is of so much Consequence, that the Children who are yet unborn demand our Attention to it.
The greatest Objection is from the Prejudices of the People; who are inclin'd to think every Abridgment of their Liberty, tho' it is for their Advantage, inhuman and barbarous. But in this Instance, I know not how it is; Persons of Quality and Fortune, and very many of the Populace, are almost come into this Practice of themselves, from their own Observations and Reasonings upon the Head. The Husband and Wife, we have seen content to live apart for a Time; or, if they are determin'd against it, they might perhaps be indulg'd to perform the
Quarantain
together.
The
Jews,
as stiff-neck'd and rebellious a People as they are represented in the Holy Writings, had so much regard to their Health, as to submit to a much severer
Regimen.
For there is a vast Difference between a Separation from Society for a few Days, which is all this Scheme requires; and theirs, which in some Cases continued for Life.
I can't doubt, the Worthy and Learned College of Physicians, if they came into the Proposal, wou'd take care to direct the Execution of it, to a general Satisfaction: And upon this Account, if the Legislature made them a Sort of
Office of Insurance;
the Contributions they would receive from the whole Nation, and the Voluntary Benefactions of very many, to whose Families this Distemper hath been fatal, would, I'm persuaded, render them very capable of discharging that Service, by their Agents, with great Applause. I might suggest the Pleasure they must have by that Correspondence this would establish, to observe the State of Diseases and Physick through the whole Nation, and to direct the Practice of it in this Instance: Which last is a Consideration of too much Weight, not to be offer'd to the Publick: For, if any Thing can, it must reconcile every Person to this Proposal; That He, and his Relations, tho' they are the meanest of the People, (among whom this Distemper generally lodges) will have proper Medicines and Attendance, and become the Care of the most Learned Body of Physicians in the World.
FINIS.