Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-03-15
MEDICAL.
Small PON.

Small POX.
Those who have been affected with this disease
in Marlboro, have not, we believe had much
medical attendance; and, should the disease
spread. this will no doubt be the case with others
also. For the benefit of such, should there be
any ofthem among our readers,we take the follow
inc short and simple account of the mode OF
treating the disease from Goods Study of Me-
dicine." In doing SO, we would not be understood
as wishing to encourage quackery; for we arc
sure that it is constantly killing its thousands
upon thousands. But we do wish TO alleviate
suffering and lessen the number Of deaths among
those who either cannot or will not procure rcgu-
lar medical attendance in their sickness
"The grand principle in the treatmaD
of small pox, is to moderate, and keep un-
der the fever; and, however the plans that
have been most celebrated for their success
may have varied in particular points, they
have uniformly made this principle their pole
star; and have consisted in different moditi-
cations of fresh air, cold water, acid liquors
and purgative medicines heat, cordials,
and other stimulants having been abundant
ly proved to be the most ctiectual means of
cxaspcrating the disease, and cndangering
life.
DR.. Mead seems to have been almost ill.,
different as to the kind ofpurgativc employ
cd, and certainly gave no preference to
mercurial preparations. His idea was that
all were equally beneficial that would tend
to lower the system. And in this manner
nc accounts for the mildncss Of the disease
after any great evacuation, natural or artIfl-
cial; after acute diseases, child birth. and
salvation.
Mercury, however, appears to have
specific influence upon the action Of varlo-
lous matter for though, when cohsldera-
blv diluted with water, it is still capable of
propagaiing the disease by inoculation, yet
Won Wcnsel has shown satisfactorily that
when triturated with calomel it loses its en-
crgv, and in inoculation, becomes inert and
useless. Mercury has hence been dcnom-
mated in Germany remedium pancreston,
and has certainly supported its character IS
the best corrector of the smallpox We arc
acquainted with from a period antecedent to
the introduction ofmoculation into Europe,
10 the present day. "Physicians who at
tend hospitals says Sir George Baker,
"hayc frequently observed the smallpox
to be particularly mild in those patients who
have happened to receive the infection soon
after mercurial ptyalism and noculaton
is said to have been much more success
ful practice in some Of our American COL
onies since the use ofcalomel has been there
introduced into the preparativc regimen"
When given merely as a purgativc it is
usually mixed with ialap, and i'll this manner
acts much more brisklv.
Exposure to fresh and cold air is nearly
if not altogether, of as much service as Cal
omel; and hence the patient, however in-
active and detected he may be, should be
reused frsm his bcd,and urged to use gentle
exercise either abroad or i'll u cool capa-
cious room. Cold water is usually prescri-
bed in large draughts for the same purpose
and very generally proves highly refresh
ing. The acids, and especial the diluted
mineral acids, have peculiar influence i'll
diminishing the extent Of the eruption: in-
somuch that some inoculators have been
bold enough to prophecy the number of
postules patient would produce under a
given quantity of the acid. Whether any
one of the acids has an intrinsic power be.
yond the rest, has never been sufficiently
put to the test of inquiry nor is it clearly
ascertaincd in what way they operate to-
wards the present effect. They are an cx-
cellen; refrigerant in fevers ofall kinds, but
in smallpox there seems to be a something
beyond this power, and they probably re-
strain the process ofassimilation.
Lemonade may conveniently form the
common drink during the fever; or solu-
ton ofcream of ftartar in water, which, as
tending to keep the bowels gently open, will
be preferable. When the fever is consider
able, the pwgative should be repeated at
each ofits exacerbatng stages and if con-
vulsion-fits arise, the spasmodic irritation
is best removed by laudanum.