Ufe of Dr. Jenner, 159 



reference to small pox), should not unfairly be cast in our 

 teeth. 



4. We have now reached the last, and what some of our 

 readers may perhaps consider the most important branch of 

 the discussion — namely, the causes of vaccine failure. This 

 subject naturally belongs to Dr. Baron's second volume ; and 

 we shall wait with impatience for the detail of his own and 

 of Dr. Jenner's views concerning it ; but there are sufficient 

 allusions to it in the present volume, to entitle us to bring the 

 matter forward in this place. We must, in the first instance, 

 refer back, for a short time, to the views originally enter- 

 tained by Jenner concerning the complete efficiency of 

 vaccine protection. Popular rumour, we have seen, attri- 

 buted to cow-pox a certain degree of protecting power from 

 the small-])ox ; but it was only to a certain degree ; and the 

 great reason why Jenner failed in convincing his early friends 

 of the Alveston club, of the justness of his views, was, that 

 in their judgment, the quantum of protection which cow-pox 

 aflbrded was not sufficient. It is important to keep this in 

 view. The following extract will explain our meaning ; and 

 those who desire further information concerning the popular 

 opinions as to vaccine influence, may consult our author at 

 pages 48, 49, 131, 292, and 298. 



" The state of feeling of those medical men in the district where he 

 resided, who had heard of the reported virtues of the cow-pox, and who 

 had also occasionally met with occurrences which seemed to con^oborate 

 the popular rumour, will have told the reader the sort of difficulties that 

 Jenner met with, and will likewise prove that it required a mind possessed 

 of all the firmness of purpose which he enjoyed, to induce him to perse- 

 vere in his pursuits. * We have all heard (they would observe) of what 

 you mention, and we have even seen examples which certainly do give 

 some sort of countenance to the notion to which you allude ; but we have 

 also known cases of a perfectly different nature, — many who were re- 

 ported to have had the cow-pox having subsequently caught the small- 

 pox. The supposed prophylactic powers probably, therefore, depend 

 upon some peculiarity in the constitution of the individual who has 

 escaped the small-pox ; and not on any efficacy of that disorder which 

 they may have received from the cow. In short, the evidence is alto- 

 gether so inconclusive and unsatisfactory, that we put no value on it, and 

 cannot think that it will lead to any thing but uncertainty and disap- 

 pointment.' " — pp. 125, 126. 



From this and other passages we may learn, that there 

 were two supposed objections to vaccine inoculation : — I. The 

 temporary nature of the security afforded. — 2. Its occasional 

 want of power to saturate the system. Mr. Alsop of Calne, 

 told Dr. Ingenhousz, in 1798, *« that the casual cow-pox is 

 sometimes not severe enough to extinguish the susceptibility 

 to the small-pox." (p, 292.) It is certainly curious, that Dx^ 



