Royal Jenncnnn Sock-tij. Si> 



connected with the quesiion as to the efficacy of the practice^ 

 thev thouo-ht it incambent upon them to examine also into 

 •the vahdity of these injurious statements respecting v;ic- 

 cination. 



After a very minute investigation of these subject.*, the 

 result of their inquiries has been submitted to the medical 

 council ; and from the report of the committee it appears : 



I. That most of the cases, which have been brought for- 

 ward as instances of the failure of vaccination to prevent the 

 small-pox, and which have been tke subjects of public atten- 

 tion and conversation, are cither wholly unfounded or grossly 

 misrepresented. 



II. That some of the cases are now allovvcd, by the very 

 persons who first related them, to have been erroneously 

 fitated. 



TIL That the statements of such of those cases as are 

 published, have, for the most part, been carefully investi- 

 gated, ably discussed, and fully refuted, by different Vvritcrs 

 on the subject. 



IV. That notwithstanding tb.c most incontestable proofs 

 of such misrepresentations, a few medical men liavc per- 

 sisted in repeatedly bringing the same unfounded and refuted 

 reports and misrepresentations before the public ; thus per- 

 versely and disingenuously labouring to excite prejudices 

 against vaccination. 



V. That in some printed accounts advei^e to vaccination, 

 in which the writers had no authenticated facts to support 

 the opinions thev advanced, nor any reasonable argun)ciits 

 to maintain them, the subject has been treated with iiKleccnt 

 and disgusting levity ; as if the good or evil of society were 

 fit objects for sarcasm and ridicule. 



VT. That when the practice of vaccination was first in- 

 troduced and recommended by Dr. Jenner, many persons, 

 who had never seen the effects of the vaccine fluid on the 

 human system, who were alm<*st wholly unaecjuainted with 

 the history of vaccination, the characteristic marks of the 

 genuine vesicle, and the cautions necessary to be observed in 

 tht management of itj and were therefore incompetent to 



F 3 decide 



