66 Dr. Ainslie on Small-Pox and Inoculation in Eastern Countries. 



letter to Dr. Woodville, from Milan, dated 7th of November 1801, in which 

 he observed that he was the first person in Italy who found that the cow-pox 

 prevailed amongst the cows of that part of the world. In America,* after 

 much industrious research, this singular vesicle was discovered by Dr. Wil- 

 liam Buel of Sheffield, in the state of Massachusetts, on tlie cows of that 

 place, about the middle of May ISOl: it was also found in the state of Con- 

 necticut, by Dr. Elisha North of Goshen, as well as by Dr. J. Trowbridge 

 of Danbery ; and there is no doubt, that it has been met with in several 

 other of the American provinces. I should rejoice if I could here add, that 

 we had been equally fortunate in India ; but, alas ! in no part of those vast 

 dominions, as far as I can learn, is the vaccine disease at present to be 

 found on the cows ; neither has the exact affection of the horses' heels, 

 which has obtained the name of grease, been seen. It is more than probable, 

 however, that on the cows of the adjoining country of Butant the com- 

 plaint might be discovered, were it diligently sought after : as that is a land, 

 notwithstanding its low latitude (from 26° SI/ to 28° 50' north) in which are 

 found many of the productions of Europe, owing to its great elevation above 

 the level of the sea. It must be remarked, that I have said that the vaccine 

 disease cannot at present be found on the cows of India. This expression 

 I have used, as there are some grounds for believing that inoculation for the 

 cow-pox was known in days of old to the Hindu medical writers. From a 

 communication written by Calvi Virambam, a learned Hindu, and which 

 appeared in the Madras Courier of the 12th January 1819, I make the 

 following extract. *' To substantiate the fact that the inoculation of the 

 " cow-pox was known in remote times to the Vaidi/as, it is only necessary 

 " to refer to the Sacteija Grantha, attributed to Dhanxvantari, and there- 

 " fore undoubtedly an ancient composition. In one part of the work, after 

 " describing nine several kinds of small-pox, of which three (one alabt, 

 " being the confluent) are declared incurable, the author proceeds to lay 

 " down the rules for the practice of inoculation. From this part the following 

 " two excerpts are made; of the first of which the original is given in the 

 " English character, and with it a literal translation : of the second the 

 " original is not given, but merely the translation." 



* See Medical Repositorj', vol. v. p. 93. 



f Extending from Chichacottah to Pliari. See Turner's Embassy to Tliibet, pp. 20 and 178. 



