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consequences of introducing a bestial humour into the human frame, after a long lapse of years?" I beg leave to ask, in my turn, if any person can say, what may be the consequences, after a long lapse of years, of introducing into the human frame cow's milk, beefsteaks, or a mutton-chop?

I hope medical men will in future be cautious how they prejudice the public mind against a fair trial of a practice, warranted by observation, and recommended by a physician of distinguished abilities, and not spread a serious alarm, where even the vulgar and illiterate, who are generally most averse to all innovations, and of course to all improvement in the practice of physic, have not hitherto hinted a suspicion.

Dr. Moseley argues as if the cow-pox were a new disease in the human species; a supposition which it is unnecessary to refute. One of the advantages proposed by Dr. Jenner and Dr. Pearson, from the establishment of the new practice, is, that although the disorder in question is so common, and has long been well known in many parts of the kingdom, it never has been suspected to leave behind it any other disease.

In this memoir Mr. Ring endeavoured to remove those vain alarms which had been excited by the reports of Dr. Woodville and Dr. Pearson, and which had deterred the majority of medical men from adopting the practice. His efforts were not unsuccessful.

He was the first who represented vaccine inoculation in the favourable light in which it had been represented by Dr. Jenner. He stated, that those who 1802-3

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were

were inoculated with pure vaccine matter scarcely laboured under the least indisposition, except what arose from the inflamation of the arm.

Having obtained some of the cow-pock matter, so successfully used by Dr. Jenner in his own practice, he inoculated all whom he could prevail on to submit to the operation gratuitously; and invited medical practitioners in general to accept, in a state of purity, what even in an impure state they could not otherwise procure in London, without purchasing it at a high price.

He has since inoculated a far greater number than any other practitioner in London, except Mr. Wachsel, of the Small-pox Hospital, and by disseminating vaccine virus throughout Great Britain and all parts of the world, free of expence, he has had some share in eftablishing vaccination; and in removing the principal obstacles to the propagation of the practice.

First he supplied gentlemen who belonged to public institutions; particularly the physician of the vacine pock institution. Justly dreading the consequences that would ensue, if contaminated matter should be disseminated at the new place of sale for cowpock matter, he expressed his apprehensions to Dr. Pearson; who availed himself of the offer of genuine matter, and accepted a liberal supply.

He also supplied Dr. Marshall and Dr. Walker with the vaccine virus with which they inoculcated in the Mediterranean; and Mr. Rush, at the request of Dr. Marshall. Mr. Rush, although one of the

surgeons

surgeons of the vaccine pock institution, informed Dr. Marshall that he could not trust to any matter that did not come from the stock of Dr. Jenner. From this source Mr. Rush, at that time Inspector of hospitals, seconding the laudable zeal of Mr. Keate, surgeon-general to the army, drew a supply; in order to furnish the army surgeons under his direction with the means of securing our brave soldiers from the ravages of the small-pox.

These truths Dr. Jenner has always been the first to acknowledge. We lately saw a letter from him to a celebrated foreign physician, then in London, in which he says:

"1 am happy to find you have been introduced to my friend Mr. Ring. The discovery, which I had the happiness to anounce to the world, is much indebted to his ardent zeal, and indefatigable exertions, for the rapid progress it has made; while some of those who vainly conceived themselves inftrumental in promoting its adoption, have in reality, from their ignorance and indiscretion, rather retarded than accelerated its progress."

Nothing has shewn in a more striking point of view, the immense advantage likely to result from vaccine inoculation, than the introduction of the practice into the army and navy. For the former we are indebted to Mr. Keate and Mr Rush; for the latter, to Dr. Trotter, Physician to the Fleet, and Dr. Blane at that time one of the commissioners of Sick and Hurt. Dr. Blaine obtained an order from the Lords of the Admiralty to sanction his benevolent design.

On this occasion, the physicians and surgeons of the fleet presented a gold medal to Dr. Jenner, together with a suitable address.

In this address they observe, that Dr. Jenner is probably no stranger to the introduction of the new inoculation into the navy, by order of the Lords of the Admiralty. They say, by inquiries instituted in the Channel, it has been ascertained that the smallpox has been imported more than a hundred times within the last seven years; and in twenty different instances, within the last six months, by the grand fleet alone. They remark, that it is no wonder the disease was attended with uncommon mortality, when the subjects whom it attacked were so ill prepared for its reception.

The address then states, that as far as vaccine inoculation has been practised in the navy, it has been crowned with success. Those who have undergone that operation were not even entered on the sick list.

The authors of this important and memorable address then declare, that, although prevented by their situation from receiving the earlieft intelligence of improvements in medical science, they have not been passive spectators of an event so singular, as a discovery of a substitute for the small-pox; an event, which the philosopher will contemplate with wonder, and the friend of the human species view with exultation.

The medal is embellished with proper devices. It represents Apollo, the god of physic, introducing a seaman recovered from vaccine inoculation to Britannia; who, in return, extends a civic crown, on which is inscribed-JENNER.

The motto is peculiarly happy :

ALBA NAUTIS STELLA REFULSIT.

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