78 Inefficacy of Vaccine Inoculation. 



XII. Facts and Observations tending to disprove the 

 efficacy of the practice of Vaccination, as a preven- 

 •tive of Small- Pox. By Mr. John Birch, Surgeon^ 

 in London. 



Magna est Veritas et Prxvalebit. 



HAD the inoculation for what has been called 

 cow-pox succeeded, agreeably to the sanguine pro- 

 mises and expectations of its advocates, I should have 

 thought myself called upon to recant the opinion I 

 gave to the committee of the House of Commons, and 

 to apologize for having persevered in it; but as the 

 experiment has failed in several instances, and the 

 truth can no longer be concealed from the public, I 

 think it necessary to appeal to the judgment of discern- 

 ing persons, whether I have not been treated with much 

 injustice, for firmly maintaining an opinion for which I 

 had such strong grounds. 



It was a maxim, handed down to us while I was a 

 student at St. Thomas's Hospital, " Never to sacrifice 

 experience to experiment;" and, therefore, in disea- 

 ses, for the treatment of which time and observation 

 had laid down a rule of successful practice, I am cau- 

 tious how I exchange this for new opinions. 



The judicious manner in which my excellent friend, 

 Baron Dimsdale, managed the inoculation for small- 

 pox, had long convinced me, that if any man deserved 

 well of his country, he was entitled, at least, to the 



