Medicine - Operation of inoculation of the smallpox as performed in Bengall (Coult, 1731):

Excerpts from Dharampalji's book Indian Science and Technology in the 18th Century (1971)

Here follows one account of the operation of inoculation of the smallpox as performed here in Bengal taken from the concurring accounts of several Bhamans and physicians of this part of India.

The operation of inoculation called by the natives tikah has been known in the kingdom of Bengall as near as I can learn, about 150 years and according to the Bhamanian records was first performed by one Dununtary, a physician of Champanager, a small town by the side of Ganges about half way to Cossimbazar, whose memory is now held in great esteem as being thought the author of this operation, which secret, they say, he had immediately of God in a dream.

Their method of performing this operation is by taking a little of the pus (when the smallpox are come to maturity and are of a good kind) and dipping these in the point of a pretty large sharp needle. Therewith make several punctures in the hollows under the deltoid muscle or sometimes in the forehead, after which they cover the part with a little paste made of boiled rice.

When they want the operation of the inoculated matter to be quick they give the patient a small bolus made of a little of the pus, and boiled rice immediately after the operation which is repeated the two following days at noon.

The place where the puncture were made commonly festures and comes to a small suppuration, and if not the operation has no effect and the person is still liable to have the smallpox but on the contrary if the punctures do suppurate and no fever or eruption ensues, then they are no longer subject to the infection.

The punctures blacken and dry up with other pustules.

The fever ensues later or sooner, according to the age and strength of the person inoculated, but commonly the third or fourth days. They keep the patient under the coolest regimen they can think of before the fever comes on and frequently use cold bathing.

If the eruption is suppressed they also use frequent cold bathing. At the same time they give warm medicine inwardly, but if they prove of the confluent kind, they use no cold bathing, but keep the patient very cool and giving cooling medicine.

By K. Kesava Rao
Department of Chemical Engineering
Indian Institute of Science
Bengaluru 560012, India
kesava@iisc.ac.in

...To be continued ...

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