Year: 1869




is reproduced during the course Of the dis
ease. 1t is accompanied by certain symp-
toms, and peculiar eruption upon the
skin. When this specific poison is alb
sorbed and infects the blood, period Of
latency occurs which is termed the stage or
period of incubation. This period Of in
cubation lasts from ten to sixteen days
CASUALLY thirteen or fourteen). Then the
disease proper commences by fever which
lasts up to the appearance Of the eruption,
and is called the secondary stage. The Or
binary duration ofthis fever is four days; it
may be sudden in its attack, or be prcccd-
cd with great tendency to vomiting,
drowsiness, and oppression of the brain,
and severe muscular pains, resembling
rheumatism, especially in the small of the
back. Also in many cases there is severe
sore throat. After four. days of this fever,
and the other severe symptoms accompany
ing it usually cease for tho time being.


The eruption first appears in small
bright red pimplcs on the face, neck and
upper extremities, then on the body and
lastly on the lower extrcmitics. These
pimplcs on the second or third day of the
eruption, change into vesiclcs or little bis
ters, which contain clear whey-colored
fluid; these vesicles continue three or four
days and then rpen into pustules which
contain yellow matter. The number of
these pustulcs varies according to the Sc
vcrencss of the case, from dozen or two
to hundreds or thousands. There is great
swelling of the whole face, head, and neck,
the cyclids often close entirely, and blind
ing the patient. After about two days
more or about the eighth day Of the crup-
ton, dries into scabs or crusts. Dur
ing the pustules, rupture and matter
exudes after the exudations Of matter
the pustulc shrivels and dries up. The
crust is detached between the eleventh and
fourteenth days leaving the skin beneath
Of dark reddish brown hue, which lasts
for many days or weeks. On the face the
pustulc often pcnctrates or burrows under
the skin, which upon the cessation Of the
liberation leaves pcrmanents scar or pit"


At about the eight day sccond dairy fe-
yer occurs which last during the period of
supnration,or maturating, and then ceases.
With the falling of the crusts, about the
fourteenth day, the disease terminates


The cause of the disease is obscure,
though there is many reasons to believe
that it first originated in some of the lower
animals and from them extended to the
human species. 1t is communicated from
one person to the other through immediate
contact with the body, by breathing the
infected atmosphere, orin any way coming
under the influence Of tho germs Of the
poison which exists in the cxhalations from
the sccrotions Of the body of the patient
The poison is carried into the clothing of
the patient, and the bcding, in the scabs
which fall from tho body, &c. These poi
sonous germs may exist for years even
unimpaired. The disease is probably gen.
Grated in the suffering patient during all
stages, and is most dangerous when most
noticeable to the sense Of smell. It ex-
tcnds for quite distance around the pa
tient, and it is, therefore unsafe to even en-
ter the same house, or come in contact with
him in the street.


It should bc borne in mind that this
dread disease is one which cannot be cut
short when established, but must RUN its
course. Much may, however, be done to
mitigate the sufferings Of the patient and
render less dangerous and imsightly the
consequences resulting from the ravages Of
the poison. ....:


Tn the treatment of the disease, 60 far as
possible, free eruption should be prcvcn-
ted. No heated drinks should be given to
forcc out the eruption. The diet should
be light, consisting Of gruels, ripe fruits,
&c. The room in which tho patient lies
should be cool and we'll ventilated, the
bed clothing light and kept scrupulously
clean. The prevention Of smallpox is
partially to be secured by the use Of pow
erful disinfectants. The reliable means,
however, for its prevention is to be found
in vaccination. This cannot be too foicibIy
brought to the attention Of the public-as
to that alone can we look for safety from
most terrible scourge.


For sixty-eight years has vaccination
been in constant use for the prevention Of
! smallpox. DR.. Jernor made the discov