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REASONS Againſt the PRACTICE OF Inoculating the Small-Pox.

AS ALSO A Brief Account of the Operation of this Poiſon, infuſed after this manner into a Wound.

Audax omnia perpeti
Gens humana ruit per vetitum nefas.
Horat.

By LEGARD SPARHAM, Surgeon.

LONDON, Printed for J. PEELE, at Locke's Head in Paternoſter-Ro [...] M.DCC.XXII.

(Price Sixpence.)

TO My Worthy Friend Mr. William Beckett, Surgeon, and F.R.S.

[iii]
DEAR SIR,

I HAD rather permit this little Tract to creep into the World by your Approbation [iv]and Favour, than daringly puſh it out under the Patronage of ſome Noble L—d, or Rich Citizen; for Truth wants no ſuch bulky Supports, and Fallacy can never deſerve them. Flattery was never my Talent, as appears by my Dedication, in which I purpoſely omit a Recital of your Vertues and Knowledge; becauſe I would neither offend you, nor trouble the World with a Repetition of what your own [v]Works have abundantly ſet forth; but preſume rather by this ſmall Offering to ſtrengthen the Ties of our Friendſhip, than attract by fulſome Panegyrick the Admiration of any.

Accept therefore theſe Sheets as Pledges of my Wiſhes for your Proſperity; and how much I have at Heart the Publick Good. The ſmall Interruption this Brevity will give it by your Peruſal, may plead my Excuſe [vi]for the Trouble and believe me,

SIR, Your Sincere Friend And Humble Servant, Legard Sparham.

REASONS againſt the Practice of Inoculating the Small-Pox.

[7]

TO give an Account of the Small-Pox, or to run through the different 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 Inſpiration of Air heterogene to our Bodies, betrays itſelf by Pains of the Back and Head, Wearineſs in the Limbs, Vomitings, &c. uſually two or three Days before the Eruption of the Puſtules; after which, for the moſt part, the Patient feels a Remiſſion of Symptoms: and the kind Maturation of the Puſtules generally frees the infected Perſon in twelve or fourteen Days, unleſs ſomething unexpected ſucceeds. 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 Inoculating, ſhall be our next Conſideration.

IN order to which, we will preſume the Infection of the ordinary way to be with the Air firſt admitted into the Lungs, whence, by the common Circle of the Blood, by degrees it pervades 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 Inoculation 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 Symptoms, and the Patient entirely ſecure in the Experiment, ( * of which we have had a late melancholly 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 Proſpect 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 longeſt may be ſpun without the Tryal of it at all.

THE inſtilling of Poiſon into a Wound has always been accounted [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 poiſonous Fountain, from which it every Moment receives new Supplies: and as by degrees the venomous Particles in the Wound begin to abate of their Fury, the Symptoms become more languid, which though incapable to excite the higheſt Diſorders, yet in their Return may create Obſtructions in the ſmaller Veſſels of the Groins, Arm-pits, Joints, &c. the Conſequences of which are frequently greater than the Diſeaſe itſelf, and ſometimes incurable.

WHICH brings to my Memory an Experiment of a Pretender to Phyſick, whoſe Ability conſiſted [12]in a Secret to fortify the Stomach 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 Direction, 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 Safety was the leaſt of his Concern.

IT is very obſervable in Phagedenical Ulcers, when at any time they appear dryer than ordinary, that the leaſt Portion of Matter lick'd up by the Veſſels, 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 produce the like Effects? There is a wide Difference between extravaſated Matter in a State of Digeſtion, 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 repeated 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 Pimples, as not to exceed five or ſix in number, and yet the Patient as ſecure from a ſecond Infection as thoſe who have ſuffered from a Redundancy of them. Yet even in theſe, when there ſhall happen a Recall of that Matter, though inconſiderable in Quantity, the worſt of Symptoms ariſe, and Death oftentimes 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 Juices of different Conſtitutions, the Stimulus of which will in ſome be more pointed, and in others leſs; and the Injuries ſucceeding, [15]of courſe will be adequate to the Nature of theſe Spicula or Darts, ſo inimical to the Craſis of our Blood.

WE find in the Poiſon of the Viper, when thoroughly provoked to an Emiſſion of it, the Salts of that Liquor to be ſo obdurate and inflexible, that unleſs ſome of the Fat of that Animal be inſtantly inſtill'd into the Wound made by his Teeth, no Remedy proves equal to the Cure; and if perchance the Patient 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; indeed Experience happily declares [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 inflaming the ſame with a poiſonous Juice, till by the Irritation of it, each Fibril becomes ſo fretted, as to produce an Ulcer, 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 Rancour of which increaſing every [17]Moment in proportion to the Ferment made there, the Symptoms will haſten according to the Addition receiv'd, that if a kind Maturation enſues not in a ſtated time, the Part thus wounded may be in danger of a Gangrene, 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 prognoſticate the Event, which would but too evidently infer Death, or at leaſt the Loſs of that Member.

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 tranſpires, and raiſes the Cuticula into the like Protuberances, that you may plainly diſcern a Pock contained in a Pock; that in the Cutis holding the groſſeſt Subſtance, and moſt fitted for Digeſtion, according to the Increaſe of which, is the Bulk of the other. Which Contrivance is admirable; for that the Coldneſs 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 thinner Part is perſpired, and the thicker left to incruſtate and ſhell off, without any Fears of freſh Supplies of Infection. Nature having by this kind Suppuration [19]finiſhed her Work, when in the inoculated Way, the Sore ſhall continue for Weeks after the Pox, and not without Difficulty heal at laſt. And though the Blood be diſpirited and broken 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 anſwerable 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 often as renew'd, will cauſe the ſame Symptoms either to thoſe who have ſuffered by the natural or artificial Pox, as has been experienced 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 juſtify the contrary; for the Condition 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 Inſection, any more than that the Transſuſion of the Blood or Matter of a venereal pocky Perſon into a ſound Habit, ſhould ſecure him from any future Amour 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 envenom'd Salts, which will neceſſarily 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 Preſſure 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 Arſenick, 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 Declenſion; 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 Subſtance, 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 Inoculated, 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, Whether this artificial Pox ſo ſquares with the natural one, as to deſerve 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 fortuitous Contraction of this Diſtemper being from infected Air, the Veſicles of the Lungs may become 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 Reaſon and Self-Preſervation the Experiment is.

Violent Fevers, Convulſive Fits.

Face and Throat ſwell'd.

Vomitings, and other bad Symptoms before the Eruptions.

Swellings on the Shoulders, Thighs, and Inguinal Glands, after the Small-Pox was off; with more, too tedious here to be inſerted.

[25]

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 mercenary 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 certain Sickneſs now, under pretence 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 Extraction of which would have prevented it; which though not equal in its Conſequence, yet altogether as abſurd to enforce the Practice.

[26]

WE have ſeen South-Sea Schemes, good Parliaments, Bills for preventing the Plague; heard of Plots: but, till now, never dreamt that Mankind would induſtriouſly plot to their own Ruin, and barter Health for Diſeaſes. 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 determine 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 againſt Powder and Ball, by making [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 enumerated by Dr. Nettleton to Dr. Whittaker; and the Continuance of it much longer, though perchance 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 greateſt Admiration: ſed Gens miſerrima ad omne malum praeceps fertur. Our Condition is deſperate, [28]and theſe Gentlemen, theſe new Operators are kindly furniſhing us with Materials for our Diſpatch: Which that Providence may put a ſtop to, are the hearty Prayers of the Publick's Wellwiſher and Friend,

L. Sparham.

POSTSCRIPT.

[29]

WHoever Nettleton and Whittaker are, ſhall not be our Enquiry now; or whether the Book ſubſcribed Nettleton to Whittaker, was not a Contrivance here in Town, under thoſe Names, to ſpread the Practice, the following Paragraph (taken out of Nettleton's Book) will beſt prove the Deſign:

‘"THERE is one Obſervation which I have made (though I would not lay any great Streſs upon i [...]) that in Families where any have been inoculated, thoſe [30]who were afterwards ſeiz'd, ne'er had any ill ſort of Small-Pox, but always recovered very well."’

He muſt be very dull, who cannot conſtrue this.

FINIS.
Notes
*
My Lord Sandecland's Son, who dy'd of this ne [...] Method.
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TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 5575 Reasons against the practice of inoculating the small pox As also a brief account of the operation of this poison infused after this manner into a wound By Legard Sparham Surgeon. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-6116-E