Case ix.—­Although the cow-pox shields the constitution from the smallpox, and the smallpox proves a protection against its own future poison, yet it appears that the human body is again and again susceptible of the infectious matter of the cow-pox, as the following history will demonstrate.

William Smith, of Pyrton in this parish, contracted this disease when he lived with a neighbouring farmer in the year 1780.  One of the horses belonging to the farm had sore heels, and it fell to his lot to attend him.  By these means the infection was carried to the cows, and from the cows it was communicated to Smith.  On one of his hands were several ulcerated sores, and he was affected with such symptoms as have been before described.

In the year 1791 the cow-pox broke out at another farm where he then lived as a servant, and he became affected with it a second time; and in the year 1794 he was so unfortunate as to catch it again.  The disease was equally as severe the second and third time as it was on the first. [Footnote:  This is not the case in general—­a second attack is commonly very slight, and so, I am informed, it is among the cows.]

In the spring of the year 1795 he was twice inoculated, but no affection of the system could be produced from the variolous matter; and he has since associated with those who had the smallpox in its most contagious state without feeling any effect from it.

Case X.—­Simon Nichols lived as a servant with Mr. Bromedge, a gentleman who resides on his own farm in this parish, in the year 1782.  He was employed in applying dressings to the sore heels of one of his master’s horses, and at the same time assisted in milking the cows.  The cows became affected in consequence, but the disease did not shew itself on their nipples till several weeks after he had begun to dress the horse.  He quitted Mr. Bromedge’s service, and went to another farm without any sores upon him; but here his hands soon began to be affected in the common way, and he was much indisposed with the usual symptoms.  Concealing the nature of the malady from Mr. Cole, his new master, and being there also employed in milking, the cowpox was communicated to the cows.

Some years afterward Nichols was employed in a farm where the smallpox broke out, when I inoculated him with several other patients, with whom he continued during the whole time of their confinement.  His arm inflamed, but neither the inflammation nor his associating with the inoculated family produced the least effect upon his constitution.

Case xi.—­William Stinchcomb was a fellow servant with Nichols at Mr. Bromedge’s farm at the time the cattle had the cow-pox, and he was, unfortunately, infected by them.  His left hand was very severely affected with several corroding ulcers, and a tumour of considerable size appeared in the axilla of that side.  His right hand had only one small tumour upon it, and no sore discovered itself in the corresponding axilla.