Cases of small-pox, which occurred in the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb: with an account of the re-vaccination of all the children in that establishment / [B.G. Babington].

  • Babington, B. G. (Benjamin Guy), 1794-1866
Date:
1836]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Cases of small-pox, which occurred in the Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb: with an account of the re-vaccination of all the children in that establishment / [B.G. Babington]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    I annex, by way of appendix to this table, an account of the re-vaccination of three of my own children; whose cases may perhaps be considered to possess some interest, not only from the certainty of my information regarding their former vaccination, but likewise from the considerable effects which followed the adoption of this measure. Of these, William and Stephen, twins, were born in June 1820; and Arthur in October 1821. The former were vaccinated by Mr. Charles Aikin, at the public establishment in Broad Street, when about two months old. The latter, at about the same age, by the late Dr. Babington, from a healthy little relative, who had been vaccinated by Mr. Aikin. On the seventh of March, 182S, they were all re-vaccinated, at the Small-pox Hospital, by Mr. Wheeler. The twins were both made sick and faint by the operation, or rather, perhaps, by the dread of it; and one of them, William, vomited copiously : Arthur felt no such effect. Case of William-. On the third day, four small eleva¬ tions were apparent: on the sixth day, four tolerably well-formed vesicles, somewhat depressed in the centre, and surrounded by an areola, which had an erysipelatous character, being studded, on close inspection, with very minute vesicles. Glandular enlargements on each side of the neck took place, apparently in consequence of the local irritation. On the eighth day, four scabs, of a resinous appear¬ ance, had formed, and the areola was fading. The glandular enlargements continued on the neck, which was stiff and painful on motion. On the eleventh day, some slight redness remained around the scabs, which were dry, and in a day or two fell off. Case of Stephen . On the third day, three elevations appeared, somewhat larger than in the former case. On the sixth day, these elevations had become vesicles, irregular in form, and puckered towards the centre : two of them were beginning to scab. They were surrounded by an erysipelatous areola: some°pain was felt in the axilla ; and a small painful glandular tumor was perceptible above the clavicle. On the eighth day, three resinous scabs had formed, the areola around which was fading. The glandular enlargement on the clavicle continued more painful, and the neck more stiff. On the eleventh day, the scabs remained, but all inflamma¬ tion had subsided. Case of Arthur . On the third day, nine elevations, more inflamed than those of his brothers, made their appearance ; and a narrow areola already surrounded each. On the sixth day, six of the punctures had advanced to the state of vesicles, filled with clear serum : these were irregular in form, and were surrounded by an equally irregular angry areola, beset with very minute erysipelatous vesicles. Some headache and slight feverish symptoms had been felt for the last two days; and the child complained of pain in the axilla, where the glands might be felt somewhat enlarged. Lymph was taken this day from the vaccinated arm, and was inserted into the other. On the eighth day, the six vesicles had increased in size, and the areola had become generally extended; so that the whole of the upper arm was red, inflamed, and swollen, as well on the inner as the outer side; the fore arm was also somewhat enlarged by cede- matous swelling.