360 Original Vciccine Pock InsiiliUion. 



the laws of agency of the vaccine pock matter, and of the 

 practice and proceedings of the institulion, as written by 

 the pliysicians Drs. Pearson, Nikelland Nelson. The ne- 

 cessity of such inquiries will be understood by all w^ho are 

 aware how little was known on the first promulgation of the 

 cow pock inoculation in 1798; and of course how many 

 errors must have been conmiitted in the subsequent prac- 

 tice. The rude state in the iirst three or four vears is 

 clearly exposed by the report published in a former year, 

 and is again exposed by the numerous additional facts related 

 in the one read the other day. Among other resolutions, 

 were — 



1. That the thanks of the meeting be given to Drs. 

 Pearson, Nikell, and Nelson, for their able report. 



2. That this report be printed under their direction. 



3. That the thanks of this meeting be given to the whole 

 of toe Medical Establishment for their gratuitous * services. 



Till the report be printed, it may he interesting to our 

 readers to lay before them an extract relating to the effect of 

 the ncv\r inoculation, in diminishing the mortality of the 

 small pox, concerning which such contrarv statements 

 have been published by persons either unacquainted with 

 the facts, or from motives of self-interest. 



One of the objects of this institution has been to furnish 

 instructions for the vaccine practice; •■.nd. this has been 

 done by showing patients to visitors and students, as well 

 as by public lectures; and alio by written and printed pa- 

 pers. It has accordingly disseminated the new inocula- 

 tion through many parts of the world. By this time its in- 

 structions and matter have introduced the vaccine inocu- 

 lation into New South Wales, as it did before at Paris, Vi- 

 enna, &c. &c. It maybe expected from the extensive prac- 

 tice of vaccination, (this institution alone having vacci- 

 nated, and been the immediate means of vaccinating, 

 60,000 persons,) that the fatality of the small pox mu^t 

 have been diminished. That diminution, however, does 

 not yet appear; for the bill of mortality for London re- 

 ports 1202 to have died in the year 1803, whereas llll 

 died in 1799, 522 only in 1797, and 1040 in 1795: and 

 although the number has been greater in the intermediate 

 years, yet still the last year 1202 is not much less than the 

 mean number for each vear during anvfivc vears for half a 

 century past» — .How it has happened that no diminution of 



* Not one of the medical cfncers receives any pecuniary reward : oa 

 thi co'itrary, they a c all n'.Tion;; the most liberal subscriber?, from fjiem- 

 Selvas and from u.cir ir.i;iiedin;t; friends, as appears by their printrH list. 



mortality 



