1S13.] Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 391 



several specimens which he had carefully packed up at the time, 

 although they were loose and dirty when they came into my 

 hands. 1 am, Sir, your most obed.ent, 



Edinburgh, Oct. 12, 1S13. Thomas Allan. 



Article XIII. 



Proceedings of Philosophical Societies. 



IMPERIAL INSTITUTE OF FRANCE. 



Account of the Labours of the French Institute for 1812. 



(Concluded from p. 311.) 

 MEDICINE AND SURGERY. 



After twelve years of experiments, made in every civilized 

 country, since the discovery of vaccination, the Class conceived 

 that it" would be useful to collect the result of the observations 

 on an object so important to humanity. Another motive ren- 

 dered this undertaking necessary : objections and doubts had 

 been raised by well-informed men, whose testimony was calcu- 

 lated to influence public opinion. It has even been questioned, 

 whether small-pox inoculation, considered as a preservative, and 

 in some cases as a remedy for various diseases, was not preferable 

 to vaccination, or at least entitled to be preserved as well as it. 



MM. Berthollet, Percy, and Halle, commissioners, under- 

 took the necessary researches to satisfy the intention of the 

 Society; and presented, by means of M. Halle, a long report, 

 which "the Class ordered to 'be printed. They bring the different 

 points of discussion to six principal questions. Under these 

 different heads they unite, as far as possible, every thing that has 

 been accurately ascertained respecting the effects of vaccination 

 in Europe, and in the countries where Europeans have been able 

 to introduce vaccination. 



They have collected a great many facts, observed particularly 

 in France, England, Italy, India, and America, and observed 

 in individuals of all classes, constitution, mode of life, habits, 

 and manners, exceedingly different from each other. On the 

 Other band, t bey endeavour to estimate the value of the prin- 

 cipal facts upon which have been founded the most plausible 

 objections, which they neither attempt to tlude nor cum., I. 

 Thus, by comparing together the observations, they haw been 

 led to the conclusions with which they terminate their report: 

 namely — 



That vaccination does not introduce into the body a matter 



