Description of the distinct, confluent, and inoculated small pox, varioloid disease, cow pox, and chicken pox / by John D. Fisher.

  • Fisher, John D. (John Dix), 1797-1850.
Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Description of the distinct, confluent, and inoculated small pox, varioloid disease, cow pox, and chicken pox / by John D. Fisher. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    DESCRIPTION AND REPRESENTATION CONFLUENT SMALL POX. The confluent, like the distinct form of small pox, is distinguished by four successive periods ; those of invasion, of eruption, of suppuration, and of desiccation. Period of invasion.—The invasion of the confluent small pox is marked by the same general symptoms as that of the distinct variola already de- scribed. The symptoms, however, are usually much more violent and suc- ceed each other with greater rapidity. The fever, in this form of the disease, partakes of a typhous type, and comes on more suddenly, and rages with more force than in the distinct variety ; the pulse is more frequent and con- tracted, the pains in the head, back and loins are more intense and distress- ing ; the throat is more sore, the stomach and bowels are more tender and painful on pressure, and nausea and vomiting are usually more frequent and obstinate. As the time approaches for the eruption to appear, all the symptoms become more aggravated and rage with redoubled force ; the brain is more oppressed, the eyes are more sensible to light, the soreness in the throat is considerably augmented, the lungs are more crowded, and the respiration and articulation are performed with more labour and difficulty. The precursory symptoms, indeed, are sometimes so sudden in their devel- opement, and the pains in the head and the gastric distress are so great as to occasion convulsions and delirium, and, if not immediately counteracted, even to destroy life before the eruption breaks out.