The smallpox epidemic in Gloucester in 1895-6, and the water cure / by Jno. Pickering.

  • Pickering, Jno (John)
Date:
1896?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The smallpox epidemic in Gloucester in 1895-6, and the water cure / by Jno. Pickering. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    decline of fever, before I attended the patient, or there was £,ome predominant disease running contemporiineously with the fever, and which had to be cured before treating the Small-pox. Such an instance arose in the person of Mrs. Spring, who, while suffering from brain symptoms, developed Small-pox, and I had to stand by and see Small-pox pass from the first to the final stage, even to a hemorrhagic state, whilst I dare not, and did not, withdraw my attention from tlie temporary mental disturbance. Dr. Ellis, who watched my treatment from day to day, observed, I was not aware of the need for the gieat caution you observe in this instance. The following day, going down Lower Barton Street, Dr. Ellis hailed the driver, and coming up to tlie door of tlie cab, he said to me, I stopped you to say that as Mrs. Spring, in addition to the mental trouble, has now developed Small-pox, I shall stand by and allow you to treat her, without any interfer- ence on my part. I thanked him for the confidence he placed in my judgment, and told him I should do the best I could for my patient. She is now perfectly well in every respect, and Dr. Ellis has since spoken of her cure as a miracle. The same care has to be used in women who, when they are within 21 days of confinement, are the sub- jects of Smail-pox. They must not be submitted to the baths, but to washings c f the body in tepid water eight or ten times per day, just as their strength will permit. I had three such cases, and saved both mother and child in each instance. A fourth patient sent for me under similar circumstances, but she was very weak. I said, I dare not take you in hand unless I can persuade a midwife to attend you at the same time ? I called upon a midwife. She answered me, If I take your patient, I shall lose 20s. per week for four weeks. I replied, I will give you £5 if you will wait upon this woman. She refused my offer. The husband interviewed a medical man in the neighbour- hood, who dechned the case if I had anything to do with it,