I7p2. on the small pox. 17^ 



a moment of this example being imitated in every 

 quarter of the country. 



That prejudices still exist against innoculation is but 

 too certain. The following melancholy story, which 

 happened under my own eye, will evince a fatal effect 

 from the natural small pox. If it tends, in any fhape, to 

 encrease the dread of the natural, and an inclination 

 in the prejudiced to promote the innoculated small 

 pox the object will then be obtained. *' lliat from 

 evil good may be educed." 



About seven years since, being on a visit to a friend 

 at a sea-port town in Fifefliire. I was often amused 

 with the innocent prattle of two lovely children, be- 

 longing to a labouring man in the neighbourhood ; dur- 

 ing my stay they were attacked with the small pox, 

 and in the same hour I attended the funeral of both to 

 the grave ; they were the whole children of the family. 

 A few weeks since, I paid a visit" to the same place, 

 when I found the parents, whose children had before 

 amused me, pofsefsed of two others, alike in years, in 

 features, and innocent chat, to what the former were. 

 In viewing them I was often led to deceive myself with 

 the idea that time had been arrested, and that I was 

 still enjoying my original visit. Alas ! Sir, what have 

 I to add ; a few days since I was fpeftator to the 

 mournful scene of the father's depositing these inno- 

 cents by the remains of his former children. They 

 also died of the natural small-pox ; and thus one fa- 

 mily, at the diftance of seven years has been twice 

 swept by the malignancy of that diforder ; and I have 

 ^ reafon to think the parents now mourn the want of in- 

 formation respecting the advantages of innoculation. 



