322 On Vaccinallon. 



curreJ in their own coinitrv, because the accuracy of them 

 could best be ascertained, they cannot be insensible to the 

 confiriDation these receive from the reports of the successful 

 introduction of vaccination, not only into every part of Eu- 

 rope, but throughout the vast continents of Asia and Ame- 

 rica. 



IV. Several causes have had a partial operation in retard- 

 uig the general ad()j)tion of vaccination ; some writers have 

 greatly undervalued the security it affords, while others have 

 considered it to be of a temporary nature only; but if any 

 reliance is to be placed on the statements which have been 

 laid bciV)re the c;)l!cge, its power of protecting the human 

 body from the small-pox, though not perfect indeed, is 

 abundantly sutlicient to recommend it to the prudent and 

 dispassionate, especially as the small-pox, in the few in- 

 stances where it has subsequently occurred, has been gene- 

 rally mild and transient. The opinion that vaccination af- 

 fords but a leniporary security, is supported by no analogy 

 in nature, nor by the facts which have hitherto occurred. 

 Although the experience of vaccine inoculation be only of 

 a few years, yet the same disease, contracted by the milkers 

 of cows, in some districts has been long enough known to 

 ascertain that in them, at least, the nnsusceptibility of the 

 smail-pox contagion does not wear out by time. Another 

 cause is, the charge against vaccination of producing va- 

 rious new diseases of frightful and monstrous appeal ance. 



Representations of some of these have been exhibited in 

 prints in a way to alarm the feelings of parents, and to in- 

 fuse dread and apprehension into the minds of the unin- 

 formed. Publications with such representations have been 

 ■widely circulated ; and though they originate either in gross 

 ignorance or wilful misrepresentation, yet have lliev lessened 

 the confidence of many, parficularlv of the lower classes, in 

 Taccinaiion : no permanent eflects, hov%'evcr, in retarding the 

 progress of vaccination need be apprehended from such 

 causes, for, as soon as i.he public shall view them coolly 

 and without surprise, thev will exerlc contempt and not fear. 



Though the College of Physicians are of opinion tliat the 



progress of vaccinatit)n. h.as bccii retarded in a few places by 



4 the 



