On Vaccination. 317 



opinion aiul observations upon that practice, upon the evi- 

 dence which has been adduced in its support, and upon the 

 causes which have hitherto retarded its general adoption," 

 have applied themselves diligently to the business referred 

 to them. 



Deeply impressed with the importance of an inquiry 

 which equally involves the lives of individuals and the 

 public prosperity, they have made every exertion to inves- 

 tigate the subject fully and impartially. In aid of the know- 

 ledge and experience of the members of their own body, 

 they have applied separately to each of the licentiates of the 

 college ; they have corresponded with the Colleges of Phy- 

 sicians of Dublin and Edinburgh ; with the Colleges of Sur- 

 geons of London, Edinburgh, and Dublin ; they have called 

 upon the societies established for vaccination, for an account 

 of their practice, to what extent it has been carried on, and 

 what has been the result of their experience ; and they have, 

 by public notice, invited individuals to contribute whatever 

 information they had severally collected. They have in con- 

 sequence been furnished with a mass of evidence, communi- 

 cated with the greatest readiness and candour, which ena- 

 bles them to speak with confidence upon all the principal 

 points referred to them. 



I. During eight year.'^, which have elapsed since Dr. Jenner 

 made his discovery public, the progress of vaccination has 

 been rapid, not only in all parts of the united kingdom, but 

 in every quarter of the civilized world. In the British islands 

 some hundred thousands have been vaccinated ; in our pos- 

 sessions In the East Indies upwards of 800,000; and among 

 the nations of Europe the practice has become general. Pro- 

 fessional men have submitted it to the fairest trials, and the 

 public have, for the most part, received it without prejudice. 

 A few, indeed, have stood forth the adversaries of vaccina- 

 tion on 'the same groiuids as their predecessors who opposed 

 the inoculation for the small-pox, falsely led by hypothe- 

 tical reasoning in the investigation of a subject which must 

 be supported or rejected upon facts and observation only. 

 With these few exceptions, the testimony in favour of vac- 

 .cination has been most strong and satisfactory; and the 



practice 



