Miscellaneous works. Of the late Robert Willan. Comprising, An inquiry into the antiquity of the small-pox, measles, and scarlet fever, now first published: Reports on the diseases in London, a new edition. And detached papers on medical subjects, collected from various periodical publications / Edited by Ashby Smith.

  • Willan, Robert, 1757-1812.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Miscellaneous works. Of the late Robert Willan. Comprising, An inquiry into the antiquity of the small-pox, measles, and scarlet fever, now first published: Reports on the diseases in London, a new edition. And detached papers on medical subjects, collected from various periodical publications / Edited by Ashby Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the account of Pestilence above given, I am led to conclude that the spreading or herpetic Anthrax, distinguished by Eusebius from the general Loirnos, was the Small-pox, chiefly in its confluent form *. The description given does not coincide with that of any other dis¬ ease ; and, if we compare it with the account of Small-pox by the first extant author who mentions the disease under a specific name (page 2), we shall find the learned Bishop of Caesarea much more correct than the medical presbyter. Aaron says, 64 Anthrax is a hot, and epidemical apostem, arising in the groin and axilla, and often fatal on the fourth or fifth day. The Flitrax, or black Anthrax, is * Dr. Cleghorn’s statement respecting the pestilential Small-pox, (Dis. of Minorca, p. 276,) should be collated with the whole account given above, the climate and mode of life in Minorca not being very different from those in Asia Minor. Cedrenus’s account of the death of Dioclesian (page 8), though not technically accurate, depicts in a lively manner the sufferings of an adult, under the worst species of Small-pox. The appearance on the surface as of melted wax, deliquiating from the burning flesh, is highly charac¬ teristic. Rhazes compares it to that of fat or suet (p. 193); he also mentions the stench in the confluent eruption; Dico, variolae hunt ex ebullitione sanguinis, et accidit cum eis cali- ditas violenta et malus odor; et hoc est cum patiens est calidse complexionis, &c. Page 256, Channing’s Rhazes, 1st edition.