Some reaſons why the Contagion of the Small-Pox, received into the human body, cannot be extin⯑guiſhed or expelled by any Anti⯑dote, or other means than what Nature effects in producing the diſtemper.

THAT moſt celebrated Pro⯑feſſor, the learned Dr. Boer⯑haave, was of opinion that there is to be found out, in Nature, ſuch a kind of medicine as would have the ſpecific power of extinguiſhing, or eradicating the Contagion of the Small-pox, from a body infect⯑ed, without permitting any erup⯑tion of the puſtules; in the man⯑ner that other poiſons are cured by [2]peculiar Antidotes ^*. Some other Phyſicians, alſo, revering the ſen⯑timent of this great man, have pretended to ſupport the ſame opi⯑nion.

But, as no improvements have yet appeared to have been made, at leaſt nothing material has been advanced, by the advocates for this enquiry, notwithſtanding the Doctor gave his reaſons for his opi⯑nion, and explained his ſuggeſtions as far as he could, it is probable, therefore, that the unſurmountable obſtacles which have ariſen from the conſideration of this contagious venom, and the different manner of it's operations, have, hitherto, diſcouraged all the attempts that may have been ſince made towards [3]the diſcovery. And, indeed, I am inclined to think, that, had the Doctor written on this particular ſubject, after the practice of inocu⯑lation grew to be ſo much uſed in Europe, as it now is, he would, from the new diſcovery of the operation of this morbific taint, have eſta⯑bliſhed oppoſite reaſons to an opi⯑nion, which, many years ago, he thought uncontrovertable. For ſo conſpicuous in experiment, as this is, could never have eſcaped his ſagacious obſervation; which proves that the leaſt particle of variolous pus, containing the very ſeeds of contagion, by enflaming and cor⯑roding an external ſolid part, pro⯑duceth a kind of Carbuncle; where⯑by the natural operation of this contagious infection is demonſtrated to the greateſt degree of certainty, [4]and ſilences all hypothetical notions of its contaminating the fluids only, by explaining (as I ſhall endeavour to do more hereafter) that the mor⯑bific effluvia of this diſeaſe received by inſpiration, in the ordinary way of infection, by inflaming and cor⯑roding, in like manner, ſuch in⯑ternal parts as are more immediate⯑ly ſubſervient to the vital purpoſes, are therefore more likely to be pro⯑ductive of the moſt dangerous con⯑ſequences.

The method, however, given, for attaining to the knowledge of this diſcovery, is, after the infection of the Small-pox is taken, to pre⯑vent inflammation, ſo that a ſuppu⯑rated matter may not enſue: and this is propoſed to be effected, by treating the diſtemper, like other inflammatory caſes, in the begin⯑ning; [5]and giving ſuch correcting medicines, as, by gently diluting and diſſolving the blood, may car⯑ry off the cauſe by the convenient outlets; and ſo cure the diſeaſe, while in it's firſt ſtate, without coming to ſuppuration.

For this purpoſe the Doctor mentions a preparation of Mercury and Antimony, brought to a great degree of penetrability, and ren⯑dered intirely deſtitute of all Acri⯑mony by diſſolution, from whence, he ſays, there ariſeth almoſt ſuch a kind of medicine, and by which he hath ſeen ſome good ef⯑fects.

The Aethiops Mineralis hath been likewiſe propoſed as a ſpecific medicine, for the ſame intention, by Dr. Lobb, who hath given ſome inſtances of the Small-pox being, [6]in his judgment, prevented by the timely uſe of it. But as there have been frequent examples of people eſcaping this diſtemper, who had been ſuppoſed to be in the greateſt danger of taking it; it is not improbable but that ſome of theſe may have been attributed, by miſtake, to ſuch preventive means as had been uſed on thoſe occaſions.

Dr. Cheyne alſo hath pronounc⯑ed that the beſt Antidote in nature againſt the Small-pox, and the Plague itſelf, is Aethiops Mineralis and Cinnabaris Antimonii, taken, made up into boluſes, twice or three times a day, and waſhed down with Orange Whey. Of the ef⯑ficacy of which, he ſays, he has had ſome ſucceſsful experience. For the confluent Small-pox, he [7]adds, is but a miniature of the Plague, and both are curable in good habits.

Many more writers (ſome of which are of great eminence) have touched alſo upon this matter, as the ſentiment of Boerhaave, but without preſuming any further; well knowing that an affair of this nature can admit of no alternative, and that it is to no manner of pur⯑poſe to pretend to defend by argu⯑ment what cannot be ſufficiently warranted by experience. For ſuch particularities in opinion have been oftentimes ridiculed, in men of learning, as the effects of mere whim and chimera.

But the character of Boerhaave is too ſacred for reflection, as he certainly had no deſign to impoſe on the judgment of others by a [8]prediction of this ſort, which was grounded, probably, on ſuch Spe⯑culations in Chemiſtry as are not eaſily to be explained on mecha⯑nical principles.

Dr. Mead ^*, however, could not paſs over this opinion of his learned friend without wondering how he could be induced to hope that ſome time or other a ſpecific Antidote would be found againſt the contagious poiſon of the Small-pox; that is, by which it would be ſo tho⯑roughly deſtroyed, that, tho'it had been received into the body, it could not produce the diſeaſe. For, continues he, the elements of things are ſo certain, and ſo well eſtabliſhed by the permanent laws of Nature; that whoſoever would endeavour to change them, would [9]act like thoſe Philoſophers by fire (as they ſtile themſelves) who labour hard to tranſmute the baſer metals into gold; and when continual diſappointments have convinced them of the vanity of their hopes, actually extract gold out of the purſes of the ignorant and credu⯑lous by the fumes of their char⯑coal^*.

In an affair of this kind, it is undoubtedly the ſafeſt and trueſt way to conſult nature herſelf, as a divine principle, diffuſed through⯑out the creation, acting in all bodies by certain properties which are pro⯑ductive of certain effects. And we may conſider her in a vaſt vari⯑ety of ſenſes, as ſhe doth nothing in vain; attempts always to pre⯑ſerve [10]herſelf; cures all diſeaſes; and acts upon unerring rules in all her ways. Hence we obſerve in Fevers, particularly thoſe of the eruptive kinds, the moſt ſurpriſing commotions and conflicts, which ſerve to throw off the morbific mat⯑ter by various ways, for the relief of the Patient; and, in theſe caſes, eſpecially, ſhe is to be nicely obſerved, and followed with the greateſt care; becauſe any counter⯑acting means would obſtruct her firſt deſign, and make her proceed upon other different principles, which would conſequently beattended with very different effects.

It ought to be conſidered, there⯑fore, whether a ſpecific antidote againſt the contagious taint of the Small-pox (if ſuch an one were diſ⯑coverable) would not be likely [11]to do more hurt than good, by preventing a diſtemper, which, perhaps, was intended by nature, as Dr. Gilchriſt obſerves, for a drain to clear the conſtitution of ſome groſs humours, which, if not carried off in this way, would bring on other diſeaſes. The ſame Gen⯑tleman ſupports this opinion by ob⯑ſerving that thoſe Children who had had the Small-pox by inoculation in Scotland were uncommonly healthy; which he ſuppoſes to be owing to this cauſe, that the Fever in the Small-pox, communicated in the infant ſtate, not only deſtroys or expells the latent ſeeds of diſ⯑eaſes, before they are, by time and accidents, perfected, and put into action; but cauſes ſuch an altera⯑tion of the humours as may make them leſs ſuſceptible of any morbid [12]impreſſions: And the veſſels being ſo accuſtomed, before they become rigid, to certain motions and ex⯑tenſions, the body is rendered, ever after, more paſſive to the impul⯑ſes of any ſubſequent diſtemper. This, he maintains, is agreeable to experience; for one who has ſuffered an acute illneſs will bear ſickneſs better than another, who never had the like diſtemper, and be leſs overcome by it^*.

Hippocrates calls nature the great phyſican; and our judicious Sy⯑denham ſays, that a diſeaſe is nothing more than an effort of nature to throw off the morbific matter for the health of the patient; which Dr. Mead has obſerved to be no [13]where more particularly verified than in thoſe envenomed Fevers, in which the violence of the diſ⯑temper breaks out on the Skin ei⯑ther in the form of puſtules, car⯑buncles, or bubos. And hence it ſeems pretty plain that no art can abrogate the law of nature, by the prevention of thoſe kind of diſ⯑eaſes which happen from contagion.

Thoſe corpuſcular effluvia of the Small-pox, or particles which fly off from diſtempered bodies, and, mixing with the juices of others, occaſion the ſame diſeaſe, are pro⯑duced from a matter differing from all other poiſons, and liable to cauſe inflammation in a greater or leſſer degree, according to the con⯑ſtitutional ſtate and condition of thoſe that receive them: and ſome miſerable caſes of the Small-pox [14]have ſhewed us inſtances where the whole texture of the blood has been ſo broken and diſſolved, that the craſſamentum, after it had ſtood a while to become cold, could but juſt hold together. Yet, notwith⯑ſtanding, there have been ſome inſtances where this poiſon hath given ſo little diſturbance, as ſcarcely to introduce any perceiv⯑able lentor on the blood, at leaſt not enough to obſtruct it in the capil⯑lary Veſſels: And we have ſeveral times remarked where it has been ap⯑plied by inoculation, that if it had not been for it's immediate action on a ſolid part, it would have proved inſufficient even to ſhow the cha⯑racteriſtick marks of the Small-pox.

Therefore it is not altogether improbable but that this contagious venom may operate by various [15]ways; ſometimes by coagulating the blood; at others by diſſolving it; and ſometimes by corroding the ſolid parts themſelves: And this may be owing, perhaps, to ſuch natural cauſes as are not with⯑in the reach of human penetration. Which conſiderations, notwith⯑ſtanding the deference I pay to Dr. Boerhaave's extraordinary merit and abilities, have induced me to queſ⯑tion, even, the bare poſſibility of ſuch a diſcovery. But, to go on.

The Doctor intimates that the bite of the Scorpion, which was formerly ſuppoſed to be certain death, is now cured by the appli⯑cation of the bruiſed Scorpion, or the oil of it, and concludes that all poiſons have their antidotes; and, therefore, why may not a ſpecific medicine be found out of ſuch a [16]nature, that, being diffuſed all the body over, after the variolous in⯑fection is received, may introduce contrary properties, and thereby extinguiſh the diſtemper in the be⯑ginning, before thoſe effects are produced which muſt, otherwiſe, neceſſarily follow? For what Phy⯑ſician, ſays he, in a Pleuriſy, Quinſy, &c. would wait for a cure by ſuppuration, when daily experi⯑ence convinces us that theſe diſtem⯑pers are regularly cured without it? and why may not the inflammation be carried off, as well, in the firſt ſtage of the Small-pox, as in other inflammatory diſeaſes, and ſo pre⯑vent its coming to ſuppuration at all?

To this, it may be ſaid, that the general method of cure in Pleu⯑riſies, Quinſies, and other inflam⯑matory [17]diſtempers, which are nei⯑ther contagious, nor of the erup⯑tive kinds, proves inſufficient to prevent the return of them, as often as the ſudden changes and al⯑terations of the weather, different ſeaſons of the year, and many other accidental cauſes may happen to produce them. But, it is not ſo, in regard to the Small-pox; a diſeaſe which is propagated by it's own contagion only, without any other antecedent cauſe; and where a determinate length of time brings on every thing according to it's ſtated periods; ſo that nature, in doing her part, is a moſt certain guide to the Phyſician for the do⯑ing of his. Beſides it is evident that the venom of this diſtemper can infect us but once; inſomuch that that pabulum in our bodies, [18]which is productive of this diſeaſe, being totally taken up by the con⯑tagion it hath received, is thereby expunged and eradicated, ſo that there remains nothing, afterwards, on which this morbific matter can have any further effect. And, indeed, in this ſenſe, it may be truly ſaid that the Small-pox is it's own antidote, by protecting all that undergo it from any future attack.

It may be granted how extream⯑ly difficult it is to clear the maſs of blood of this poiſon; yet it is moſt certainly true that Nature en⯑deavours, with all her might, at the expulſion of it in the moſt perfect manner; that is, by forcing the morbid matter, as much as poſſible, to the puſtules^*: And [19]any interruption muſt prove of dangerous conſequence, leſt the humours ſhould be impeded in their circulatory motion, and fall into an inteſtine one, and grow putrid; which is frequently the caſe after too large evacuations, or exceſſive heat; where there is ſuch a ſcarcity of ſpirits, that the ſolids do not vibrate ſufficiently to keep the fluids in their due velocity.

This plainly indicates the hurt⯑fulneſs of too great evacuations in the beginning of the Small-pox; and ſhews the Phyſician's part to be only to aſſiſt, by following nature; and not going before her.

The Meaſles are an inflamma⯑tory fever of the eruptive kind; whoſe puſtules never arrive to a purulent ſtate like thoſe of the Small-pox; and they are cured by [20]bleeding, and cooling medicines: but, I believe, it was never yet ſeen that theſe remedies could pre⯑vent their eruption, tho' made uſe of ever ſo ſoon after taking in the nfection.

There have been ſome inſtances in the Small-pox, where ſpontane⯑ous hemorrhages, or other repeated bleedings have ſeemed to alter the nature of the diſtemper in ſome degree, by making that prove kind⯑ly, which would, probably, have fallen out otherwiſe, for want of thoſe evacuations; but, I am per⯑ſuaded, there never was any one proof of the contagion being wholly carried off that way, without ſome eruption of the puſtules: ſo that it ſeems evident, even to a demon⯑ſtration, that Nature, after a re⯑moval of the load that oppreſſes [21]her, muſt be left to do her part in her own way, by cauſing ſup⯑puration, in a greater or leſſer degree, as there happens to be oc⯑caſion for it; in order to free the body from the corrupted ſtate of the blood and humours ariſing from the contagious taint of this diſeaſe.

Moreover it is certain that the whole animal body, at all times before it has paſſed through the Small-pox, is, in every part alike, liable to receive the morboſe, or infecting taint, and ſo propagate the diſeaſe. We know, alſo, that the leaſt particle of the morbific mat⯑ter, applied to any part of the body, will cauſe the Small-pox to be produced as effectively as a much greater quantity could be capable of doing it. And it is evident, from common experience, that all [22]mankind, as well thoſe who come of parents that have had the Small-pox, as thoſe that have not, are alike liable to it; ſo that we may conclude the pabulum of this diſ⯑temper to be a part of the human nature, conceived in the firſt rudi⯑ments of generation; and therefore not to be extinguiſhed by any art, or other means, than it's own na⯑tural deſtroyer, the Small-pox itſelf; which only can render the body more perfect, by eradicating this one natural principle of morta⯑lity, and thereby giving it a ſecu⯑rity, for ever, againſt any further attack from this great evil.

The contagion of the Small-pox previouſly conſidered in a peſtilen⯑tial ſenſe, the true manner of it's operation on human bodies, as it may be beſt known from the expe⯑riment [23]of inoculation, ſeems ſuf⯑ficient to furniſh more matter for the Phyſician and Philoſopher than could poſſibly have been advanced without it. Inſomuch that the diſcovery of a ſpecific medicine to prevent the burning of a Cauſtic, or even Fire itſelf, may as well be expected, as to deſtroy the power of variolous contagion, when taken either in the natural way, or appli⯑ed by inoculation. Moſt certain, therefore, it is, that no diſcovery of this kind, ſo ſeemingly repug⯑nant to the laws of Nature, can ever be aſcribed to human inven⯑tion.