On Vhccinalmi. 323 



the above causes, yet they conceive that its general adop- 

 tion has been prevented by causes far more powerful, and 

 of a nature wholly different. The lower orders of society 

 can hardly be induced to adopt precautions against evils 

 which may be at a distance j nor can it be expected from 

 them, if these precautions are attended with expense. Un- 

 less, therefore, from the immediate dread of epidemic small- 

 pox, neither vaccination nor inoculation appear at any time 

 to have been general, and when the cause of terror has 

 passed by, the public have relapsed again into a state of in- 

 diflerence and apathy, and the salutary practice has come 

 to a stand. It is not easy to suggest a remedy for an evil so 

 deeply imprinted in human nature. To inform and instruct 

 the public mind may do much, and it will probably be found 

 that the progress of vaccination in different parts of the 

 united kingdom will be in proportion to that instruction. 

 Were encouragement given to vaccination, by offering it to 

 the poorer classes without expense, there is little doubt but 

 it would in time supersede the inoculation for the small-pox, 

 and thereby various sources of variolous infection would be 

 cut oti J but till vaccination becomes general it will be impos- 

 sible to prevent the constant recurrence of the natural small- 

 pox by means of those who are inoculated, except it should 

 appear proper to the legislature to adopt, in its wisdom, some 

 measure by which those who still, from terror or prejudice, 

 prefer the small-pox to the vaccine disease, may, in thus 

 consulting the gratification of their own feelings, be pre- 

 vented from doing mischief to their neighbours. 



Fronj the whole of the above considerations the College 

 of Physicians feel it their duty strongly to recommend the 

 practice of vaccination. They have been led to this con- 

 clusion by no preconceived opinion, but by the most un- 

 biassed judgment, formed from an irresistible weight of evi- 

 dence which has been laid before them. For when the 

 number, the respectability, the disinterestedness, and the 

 extensive experience of its advocates, is compared with the 

 feeble and imperfect testimonies of its few opposers ; and 

 when it is considered that many who were once adverse to 

 vaccination, have btcu convinced by further trials, and are 

 X 2 no\f 



