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to the less regard. Such sophistry could have no weight but with superficial minds, or with those who wished to decry this beneficial practice. It has, nevertheless, been employed as an argument, by certain illiberal and envious persons, who wished to depreciate the merits of Dr. Jenner, and on the ruins of his reputation to raise their own.

It has also been asserted, that no one can have the cow-pox twice; and that no one who has had the small-pox, can have the cow-pox, contrary to what had been advanced by Dr. Jenner. These assertions, however, have been refuted by abundant evidence; and all Dr. Jenner's principal positions, now established on a firm and solid basis, evince the accuracy of his observation, and complete his glory.

Other discoveries have been gradually evolved; the discoveries of other ingenious anatomists, published by themselves, led to that of Harvey; but this, like Minerva, sprung to light, not in a state of infancy and imbecility, but mature and perfect, and clad in impenetrable armour.

To describe the propagation of this inestimable practice, is the task of the vaccine historian, rather than that of the biographer. Suffice it to say, that it is now well established in Great Britain, and making a rapid progress through the world.

It is much to be regretted, that inoculation of the small-pox is not prohibited; and that any hospital continues, in any shape, to disseminate that poison. When we reflect on the nature of Dr. Jenner's dis covery, which is, to give new life to the human spc

cies, and on the obstacles it has met with from that quarter, we cannot but compare him to Prometheus, who stole fire from heaven for the same purpose;→ and the Small-pox Hospital, to the box of Pandora, scattering plagues in every direction, to revenge the crime.

In the Medical Journal and the Medical Review for July 1800, Mr. Ring published the London testimonial in favour of vaccine inoculation, which he first proposed and circulated with a view to stem the torrent of popular prejudice, and to refute the false reports which were circulated by self-interested persons with great industry.

In the Medical Review for the fame month he gives his opinion, contrary to what had been supposed by others, that the pustulous eruption which occurred in so many instances of vaccine inoculation at the Small-pox Hospital, was not excited by the cow-pox, but by the small-pox.

In the Medical Journal for August 1799, he had warned medical practitioners against exposing their patients to more than one infection at one time; but his warning was not regarded. In that memoir he had maintained that two morbid actions, and conscquently two eruptive disorders, might co-exist, contrary to the opinion of our immortal Hunter.

He now gave a decided opinion that no confinement, and of course no hospital, is nccessary for this disease, if indeed it deserves the name of a disease; and that if an hospital were necessary for those who wish to shun the small-pox, the Small-pox Hospital is the last to which they should be sent.

He deprecated the mode of practice then pursued, to which one patient had already fallen a victim; and affirmed that it is in vain we fhall endeavour to stop the ravages of the small-pox, while inoculation is practised at the Small-pox Hospital, and while the disease continues to issue in disguise from that polluted source.

After alluding to the experiments of Mr. Tanner, he concludes in the following words:

"Whatever may be the origin of vaccine virus, it must give every friend to the interefts of humanity peculiar pleasure to contemplate its end. The feeble opposition which the practice has met with only serves to stimulate its advocates to new exertions, and to gain additional testimonies in its favour. It may now be considered as completely established; and I hope and truft it will be one of the first acts of the first Imperial Parliament of the British ifles to bestow an adequate reward, if it can bestow an adequate reward, on that distinguished character to whom, under divine Providence, we are indebted for this blessing."

The following extract from Mr. Ring's letter, in the Medical Journal for August 1799, will fhew what objections were urged against the practice of vaccination at that time, and furnish a sufficient refutation of those objections.

Dr. Moseley, in his treatise on sugar, lately published, expresses a suspicion that the cow-pox can only render the habit insusceptible of the small-pox for a time. This is refuted by volumes of evidence, and a cloud of witnesses.

He says, "Inoculation has disarmed the small-pox of its terrors. This is refuted by the whole world. He asserts, "that accidents in the inoculated smallpox are uncommon.” Would to God experi

ence

ence did not disprove that assertion, and convince practitioners in general that no care, no skill, ever did, or ever can, tame that dreadful hydra-the smallpox !

He tells us, "We all know from experience that disease properly treated leaves nothing after it injurious to the constitution." That we do not all know it is certain if Dr. Moseley has been so happy as to discover the secret, I hope his humanity will prompt him to disclose it.

It is well known that the small-pox, whether natural or infititious, is one of the most common causes of scrofula; and my experience leads me to believe, that the absurd custom of giving cathartics after this and other eruptive disorders, by debilitating the habit, augments their tendency to produce that horrid disease.

Dr. Moseley tells us, "he wishes not to discourage inquiry," and admits that "the object well deserves it;" yet, with some degree of inconsistence he adds, that he wishes to guard parents against suffering their children becoming victims to experiment." My wishes are not less ardent than his he wishes to prevent children from becoming victims to experiment; I wish to prevent them from becoming victims to the small-pox.

Dr. Moseley intended his eccentric remarks, which are introduced rather mal-a-propos in a treatise on sugar, as an antidote for what he calls the cow-mania. He himself seems to labour under the cow-phobia.He asks, if any person can say, "what may be the

conse

Published by R.Phillips, N71, St Paul's Church Yard, London.

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