Some Account of Edward Jenner, M.D. 2,6 J 



he has two fons and a daughter. Of late he has redded with 

 his Family in London daring' the winter, but the funimer 

 feafon he general fpends at Cheltenham or Berkley. For 

 fome years pail he has devoted himfelf chiefly to refearches 

 and obfervations in regard to the vaccine inoculation, one 

 of the moft important diicoveries of modern times, as it 

 gives reafon to hope that the fmall-pox, fo fatal to the human 

 race, may at length be totally eradicated. But as this fubject 

 has been fufficiently illuitrated by various publications, and 

 particularly thofe of Dr. Jenner, Dr. Pearfon, Dr. Wood- 

 villc and others, to whom the world is much indebted for 

 the introduction and propagation of this practice, it is need T 

 3efs here to fay any thing further refpecting it. In 1800 

 Dr. Jenner publiihed a continuation of Facts and Obfervations 

 relative to the Variolae Vaccinas, or Cow- Pock, which was 

 foon followed by an Appendix to the Treatife on the Cow- 

 Pock. The facts relating to this difcovery have been fo fully 

 eftablilhed by unquestionable evidence and authority, that 

 every friend to mankind ought to ufe his utmoft endeavours 

 to promote a practice attended with fuch valuable benefits to 

 the human race. It muft give pleafure to every benevolent 

 heart to find that, in confequence of the prevailing perfuafion 

 of the ufeful tendency of this practice, thofe at the head ot 

 the naval and military departments of government have lent 

 their fanction to it, and given orders for the general intro- 

 duction of it into thofe branches of the public fcrvice ; fo 

 that it is now practifed with the fulleft fuccefs in the naval 

 and military hofpitals, and in the regiments and mips of 

 war upon fervice; and it can be faid, as an additional recom- 

 mendation in its favour, that it does not prevent thofe who 

 are under it from doing their duty. Nations even which, 

 in confequence of their ignorance, have long been under the 

 wretched influence of the moft childifh fuperltition, and who, 

 on that account, have been hoftile to many valuable im- 

 provements received and etiabliihed among more enlightened 

 itates, have begun to open their eves to the advantages of 

 this new practice; and hence it has been adopted in Spain, 

 Rufiia and Italy, and even made its way into the Ottoman 

 dominions, and among the American Indians. But, not- 

 withstanding the importance of this difcovery, like all others 

 that have benefited mankind, it has had violent opponents. 

 The facts alleged were doubted, * tales were fabricated to 

 prejudice the impartial, and this laudable undertaking was 

 attacked, and cenfured as a beajlly attempt. Eflays were 

 publifhed on both fides: but a great majority approved of 

 the practice 5 and it, at length, was found worthy the con- 



S 4 fideration 



