Royal Jennerian Society, for the extermination of the smallpox, by the extension of vaccination : patronized by His Majesty, the Royal Family, His Majesty's ministers, members of both Houses of Parliament, the Hon. the East India Company, and the Corporation of the City of London : founded in 1803, and supported by voluntary contributions.

  • Royal Jennerian Society.
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Royal Jennerian Society, for the extermination of the smallpox, by the extension of vaccination : patronized by His Majesty, the Royal Family, His Majesty's ministers, members of both Houses of Parliament, the Hon. the East India Company, and the Corporation of the City of London : founded in 1803, and supported by voluntary contributions. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    OBSERVATIONS ON VACCINATION. From tlie different modes of applying the laneet in Inoculation, some little varieties in the appearance of the pock, and some little difference in the time of the appearances, are produced. If the inoculation be effected by an extremely slight, superficial punc- ture, a small red spot is produced, which, for three or four days, will only have the appearance of the bite of some small insect. At the end of a week, there will generally be only the appearance of a small vesicle; and the pock will be a day or two later than usual in the exhibition of all its different appearances. 1 he pock, through all its stages, will preserve a circular form, spherical or orbicular in the beginning, but, as it acquires its full dimensions, be- coming flattened, and even hollow or depressed, on its summit. At this period the pock, at its circumference, is generally considerably elevated; sometimes, even, in a small degree overhanging'its basis. But it some- time^ happens, that, under the characteristic inflammation, the tumified, indurated part, surrounding the pock, is almost, or altogether, as much elevated as the margin of the pock, which then resembles a circular plane or depression, on the elevated, inflamed, indurated areola. If,^on application of the lancet, any considerable incision be made, the pock, in its circumference, puts qji a shape corresponding with the form of the surface of the cutis, which had been denuded, or had the cuticle sepa- rated from it in the inoculation. In the central part of the pock a slight ulceration and formation of pus takes place; so that the continuity of cells, which constitutes the structure of the pock, instead of forming a spheroidal congeries, takes on an annu- lar form, surrounchng the drop, and sometimes more deeply-seated mass of pus in the centre, produced by the wound from the lancet, at the time of the inoculation. Round the pock, there is, from an early period, a slight appearance of inflammation, which, on the circulation being quickened, exhibits the ap- pearance of a throbbing, synchronous with the pulsations of the arteries producing it; but which is unaccompanied with pain; and, when about the tenth day of the inoculation, the disease is at its height, this efflorescence or erythematous inflammation, forms a distinct kind of halo, or areola, which, in Europeans, is of a red or crimson tint; but which, in Blacks and people of colour, is simply of a darker hue than their own complexions. This characteristic induration, which is always accompanied with a de- gree of symptomatic fever, seems the most infallible criterion of the vacci- nation being complete, as it takes place whetherthepock have been preserved whole, or have been ruptured during its progress; and though, after its passing away, the pock is generally converted into a firm, peculiar kind of crust or scab, of a dark brown colour, the changes of the pock beginning at its centre; yet, it sometimes happens, from the matter of the pock having been freely discharged, that the characteristic crust is of a diminished size, and of a colour less intensely dark ; it sometimes happens that, from violence done to the pock, this crust is altogether prevented, and ulceration takes place ; it sometimes happens, when the vaccine effect has passed away, (the areola disappeared,) that the pock, instead of dry ing and hardening into any thing like the pecubar crust or scab, has the character of some previously existing eruption determined to the part, and becomes infirm, or of loose texture, light-coloured and of irregular form, like a portion of concreted pus, whereby the previous eruption is often carried off. By a discharge from the part at such a time, other complaints arc sometimes removed, as the excessive intolerance of light with which weak-eyed children are tormented, discharges from the ears, &c. Under all these different appearances, the characteristic inflammation For Directions for using the Matter see p. 62 of this Pamphlet. ! > ft f, I j p tK. t-.