Note 93 — PART II. OF DISEASES. (continued 2)

A critical situation, too often to be met with, first put me upon trying this method. A gentleman who had lost all his children except one son by the natural small-pox, was determined to have him inoculated. He told me his intention, and desired I would persuade the mother and grandmother, &c. of its propriety. But that was impossible. They were not to be persuaded, and either could not get the better of their fears, or were determined against conviction. It was always a point with me not to perform the operation without the consent of the parties concerned. I therefore advised the father, after giving his son a dose or two of rhubarb, to go to a patient who had the small-pox of a good kind, to open two or three of the pustules, taking up the matter with a little cotton, and as soon as he came home to take his son apart, and give his arm a slight scratch with a pin, afterwards to rub the place well with the cotton, and take no farther notice of it. All this he punctually performed; and at the usual period the small-pox made their appearance, which were of an exceeding good kind, and so mild as not to confine the boy an hour to his bed. None of the other relations knew but the disease had come in the natural way, till the boy was well.