heat, and greater anxiety than the other does. Therefore Rhazes obferved, that the inflammation of the whole body, the inquietude, and anxiety of mind, are much more terrible in the measles, than in the small-pox *.

I have therefore often wondered, why that fagacious and experienced physician, whom I have fo often mentioned with praife, did not prefcribe bleeding in the very beginning of the difeafe; but neglected this material part of the cure fo far, that he only ordered it at the end, when a hot regimen, and too warm medicines, had brought upon the patient a cough and shortness of breath. Efpecially fince he himself takes notice, that the loofenefs, which often follows this fever, and which, he fays, proceeds from hot vapours from the inflamed blood falling upon the bowels, is only to be cured by blood-letting †. But the great man deferves pardon upon this account, that, in those times, phyficians never attempted to take away blood in those fevers which were attended with any eruptions, particularly in children, who are the most liable to this kind of illness. Their reason was, left that emptying of the veffels fhould hinder the coming out of what was to be difcharged by the fkin. But daily experience fhews, that this fear is vain, and that the event is quite contrary to what they imagined.

To come therefore to the cure: As this peftilen. tial difeafe is of kin to the finall-pox, it requires a management not very different from the fame, which we have recommended in that diftemper. Blood must be taken away in the beginning, according to the age *See his book, at the end of this, chap. i. De morbillis, cap. v. p. 207. edit. 1685.

and

him, whether or not he used to take away blood?. He anfwering, No, becaufe Sydenham very feldom did it; I advised him to open a vein in the beginning of the diftemper, or, if he was called in later, as foon however as he poffibly could: for, faid I, this disease always brings with it a peripneumony, which he very well knew ever required bleeding. Not long after, he met me again, returning me hearty thanks for my counfel, affuring me, that he had not loft one patient whom he had treated in this manner. Since that time, this practice grew fo common, that it is now followed even by our apothecaries.

In the last place, it is proper to take notice, that, as was observed concerning the small-pox *, that the difeafe is more or lefs rife, according as the season of the year and ftate of the air confpire with the infection; fo the like happens in the measles. And Dr Morton relates, that, in the year 1672, this diftemper was fo terrible, that in London there died of it three hundred every week †.

But I have at laft finished this little work; which though it may perhaps, to contentious and malevolent perfons, give matter for calumny and finding fault; yet will, I hope, prove beneficial to mankind, efpecially to our own countrymen, This is all I defire; for the confcioufnefs of having done right is beyond all praife, carrying with it its own reward: and this he always enjoys, who confults the public good, and by his actions fhews, that he thinks he is

Not for himself, but for the whole world born ‡•

* Chap. ii.

tis, pag. 427: credere mundo.

† Append. ad exer. de morbis acuNon fibi, fed toti genitum fe

Lucan. 1. ii. ver. 383.

RHAZES'S

155

RHAZES'S TREATISE on the SMALL

POX and MEASLES.

PRE FAC E.

In the name of God, merciful and gracious.

A

BU-BEKER MOHAMMED, the fon of Zacharias, faith thus:

On a certain night, at a meeting in the house of a nobleman, of great goodness and virtue, and very fond of the explanation of useful fciences, that they might be made plain and intelligible for the public benefit; the conversation having turned on the small-pox, I then spoke what came into my mind on that fubject. Which when that great man (whom may God long preferve for the good of mankind) had heard, he defired, that I would write a difcourfe on that disease with fufficient aptnefs, folidity, and clearness; because there had never yet been publifhed, either by the an cients or moderns, a fatisfactory account of it.

I therefore composed this treatise, hoping to receive my reward from the almighty and glorious God, as the effect of his good-will.

Now, this is the fum of its contents, and the heads of the chapters.

CHAP. I.

Of the causes of the fmall-pox; and how it comes to pafs, that no mortal, except by chance here and there one, escapes free from this disease.

С Н А Р. II.

What bodies are moft difpofed to the fmall-pox; alfo of the feafons of the year, in which they most frequently happen.

CHA P. III.

Of the prognostic signs of the eruption of the fmallpox and measles.

CHA P. IV.

Of the regimen or cure of the fmall pox, in general.

Of prefervation from the fmall-pox before the signs of them appear; and the way to hinder the multiplying of them after the figns have appeared.

CHAP, VI.

Of those things which haften the eruption of the fmall-pox: alfo how nature is to be affifted therein,

CHA P. VII.

Of taking care of the eyes, throat, ears, and joints,

as

as foon as the figns of the fmall-pox have appear

Of taking away the dry fcabs of the small-pox, and the efchars from the eyes, and the rest of the body.

Of destroying the marks of the small-pox,

Of the food and diet in the fmall-pox.

Of managing the discharges of the belly, in the fmall

pox.

CHA P. XIV.

Of the curable and incurable fmall-pox and measles.

RHAZES'S