146 Life of Dr, Jenner. 



a broad -brimmed hat. His height was rather under the 

 middle size. His person was robust, but active and well 

 formed. In his dress he was peculiarly neat ; and every- 

 thing about him showed the man intent and serious, and 

 well prepared to meet the duties of his calling. We were 

 introduced on that occasion, and I was delighted and as- 

 tonished. I was prepared to find him an accomplished man, 

 and all the country spoke of him as a skilful surgeon, and 

 a great naturalist, but I did not expect to find him so 

 much at home on other matters." His society was much 

 coveted and prized. '* He had," says his biographer, ** a 

 singular and happy union of scientific and original obser- 

 vation, with the playfulness, and mirth, and wit, of familiar 

 intercourse. His imagination was singularly vivid, and he 

 had a peculiar felicity, even in common conversation, of 

 clothing his remarks in the gay and lively colours of poetry. 

 He was a collector of old pictures, very fond of music, could 

 play on the violin and flute, and would now and then sing 

 one of his own ballads." Such a man was Dr. Jenner, the 

 discoverer of Vaccination. It is time that we give our 

 readers some idea of the progress of his own mind towards 

 that great event. The work before us is rich in illustrations 

 of this interesting topic. 



In the green fields and shady lanes of the beautiful vale 

 where he resided, Jenner early obtained an acquaintance 

 with the popular rumours concerning cow-pox; but the 

 following circumstance first rivetted his attention. While 

 he was an apprentice at Sodbury, and probably about 

 sixteen, a young woman applied for advice. The subject 

 of small-pox was mentioned in her presence. She imme- 

 diately observed, "I cannot take that disease, for I have 

 had Cow-pox." He repeatedly mentioned this circumstance 

 to John Hunter, who advised him, we are told, to try, 

 but certainly gave him no great encouragement. In none 

 of his letters does he ever inquire, even in a postscript, how 

 the said trials with the Cow-pox proceed. We may fairly 

 presume, therefore, that John Hunter with all his learning, 

 disregarded the matter. 



Of the precise amount of the popular opinions long pre- 

 valent^ concerning cow-pox and its influence, we shall say 

 something presently ; but the impression which they made 

 upon young Jenner was obviously very strong. In 1775, 

 he began to view it as a matter of scientific investigation, 

 and from that time, until 1796, when he made his first de- 

 cisive experiment, it was probably never altogether out of 



