INOCULATION. 



135 



VaedM 



Sydenham had found moat successful in the natural 

 small-pox. Others ascribed the success of this plan to 

 the preparatory steps by which the patient was predis- 

 posed to perspiration, and the profuse perspiration after- 

 wards induced, previously to the variolous eruption. Mr. 

 Sutton's most partial advocate, the Rev. Mr. Houlton, 

 (who was a chaplain settled under that gentleman's 

 patronage, at the place where his inoculations were con- 

 ducted,) maintained that the whole process was un- 

 known to all except the discoverer himself. Mr. 

 Chandler asserted that the success of Mr. Sutton arose 

 from his taking the matter at a very early stage, before 

 it bad been ultimately variolated by the succeeding fe- 

 ver. Baron Dimsdale explained, in perspicuous lan- 

 guage, free from mystery, what he considered as the 

 most eligible- way of conducting inoculation. This au- 

 thor preferred matter taken during the eruptive fever, 

 as the moat active ; and he preferred it taken from the 

 place of inoculation, rather than from the other pus- 

 tules. He describe* the appearances at the different 

 stages, with the corresponding prognosis, and appro- 

 priate treatment, the basis of which was the same with 

 that of Mr. Sutton. - 



It the variolous inoculation had continued to be 

 1 equally important, we should have reckoned it our du- 

 '.- . *" ty to insist still more largely on the preceding particu- 

 ttnomij. but. But this ha* ceased to be the case, not indeed 

 from any failure of this form of inoculation, but tram 

 the substitution of another, which is still more advan- 

 tageous. Far a more particular account of the prece- 

 ding part of the subject, we refer to the works which 

 we Dave already mentioned, and also to the interesting 

 History of Inoculation of the Smallpox, by Dr. Wood- 

 ville, which, in a great measure, supersede* every other 

 to the? modern reader. That work abound* in apt 

 yiotatiotii. and is, on the whole, one of the most inter, 

 eating apedmetia of medical and literary history with 

 which we are acquainted. 



proceed ! describe the form of inoculation now 

 prartiMd, whkh is commonly called VACCINATION, or 

 TUB Cow-Pox. one of the moat brilliant discoveries of 

 modern time*, and which, at present, derive* a great in> 

 tenet from the scope which it still afford* fat specula- 

 tion and experimental inquiry. It is founded on an ex- 

 traordinary power possessed by disraat incident to the 

 cow, and capable of being communicated to man, viz. 

 a power of obviating the susceptibility of the system to 

 mall-pox The exMtene* of such power, derivable 



' 

 liujr. 



pox, we find, accordingly, that the shock given to incre- Vaccine 

 dulity produced among its enthusiastic advocates a fertile Inoculation. 

 suggestion of experiments, and a description, by antici- ^ ""Y"""' 

 nation, of numerous supposable discoveries. \Ve cannot, 

 however, advance as a point in science any principle 

 which has not been actually ascertained. The truths 

 known to us respecting the cow-pox are worthy of the 

 attentive contemplation both of the philosopher and the 

 philanthropist, and furnish matter tor further research, 

 as equally subservient to the extension of science, and 

 the securing of additional advantages to human society. 



For this discovery we are indebted to the now cele- Or. Jenner. 

 brated Dr. Jenner. It was previously known among 

 persons concerned in several large dairy farms, that 

 the disease, when received by accident from the teats 

 of the cow, protected the human system against small- 

 pox. Inoculation with it is said to have been prac- 

 tised in some instances by obscure individuals. Several Known pre- 

 years before Jenner wrote on the subject, some emi- viously. 

 nent physicians had heard of it, and mentioned it ca- 

 sually in their writings, but never with that pointed 

 seriousness which wan suited to so great an object. 

 Dr. Jenner was the first who wrote a treatise foi the 

 express purpose of bringing it into vii-w . .IM! extending 

 its beneficial application. This w:i- in l?fis, and the 

 treatise was entitled " An inquiry into the Cause* and 

 effects of the Variola; Vaccina;. a disease discovert--! in 

 some of the western counties of England, particularly 

 Gloucestershire, and known by the name of the Cow. 

 Pox." He did not blazon his discovery with the en- 

 thusiastic ivpu of Pythagoras. He exhibited the facts 

 with that philosophic coolness which placed a just con- 

 fidence in the candour and the enterprising spirit of 

 the age ; and he quickly found a band of warm co-ad- 

 jutom in the investigation of the subject, and the ex- 

 tanaion of the knowledge of it. Among these, Dr. Dr. Petr- 

 Pearson of London was one who united much zeal ion. 

 with enlightened caution. He collected a copious body 

 of information : be urged several important inquiries, 

 and be avsHad himself extensively of his opportunities 

 of ascertaining the laws of cow-pox by experiment. 

 It would be unnecessary to mention the names of many 

 others who were conspicuous for their exertions in the 

 same cause. In all parts of this island, and in every Rapid 

 country of the civilized world, it was hailed by en- p"d of 

 lightened men as an important discovery, and they 

 eagerly sought for opportunities of giving it universal 

 currency. It was sent to the most distant countries, and 

 spread even among the most unpolished nations ; and it 



frern such a source, though often aeatrUd by indmdu- is now problematical whether any tribe on the face of the 



i j i 1 1 ..*.. 

 d incredible to pi 



with all the farts in pathology received Prejudice* have existed' against it, but have been ge- 



among the learned, and the account* of it were disre- 

 Dr,topd, garded as vulgar fable*. Since k has been ascertained. 

 ajuii pna- it must be considered a* at death-blow to that sceptical 

 V*. incredulity which gratuitously rejects all novel sugges- 



tion* previously to their plausible introduction into in- 

 telligent circle*. It is too common to find medical 

 men, whoae information extend* no farther than the 



operation. 



nerally subdued by the gradual introduction of correct 

 habits of thiflnng. Alarms have indeed been sounded Oppositioa 

 against it, even by men of liberal education. Instances * 1U 

 of thia, however, have been few. They lurve arisen 

 from accidental occurrences, rashly construed into the 

 operation of constant natural causes. Zeal was preci- 

 pitate in its movements on both sides of this momen- 



routine of the day, cherishing their aeH^oamplacency tou* question ; and the unblushing contention for fame, 

 with a semblance- of systematic reasoning and asking which on some occasions appeared, was ridiculous, and 



worse than boyish. The effervescence which contro- 

 versy produced has gradually subsided. The inoculation 

 with cow-pox has gained ground ; facts of all kinds 

 that occur relative to it are coolly observed. We can- Our know- 

 not, however, boast of being in possession of a satisfao 1jJ*!J u11 

 tnry knowledge of all the laws of vaccination. Occur- ^ 

 renew OOOMsuBaily arise, which create a doubt concern- 

 ing the exact extent of its efiectt, both in exciting and 

 in preventing disease. We (hall, therefore, in the re. 



with incredulity, when any thing new is . 



what (food it cam do? Thi* spirit contracts greatly the 

 aphm of salubrious expedutiu. We have no right to 

 deny the existence of a power till we have disproved 

 it. We have no right, indeed, to aseert the existence of 

 any power without evidence ; but we may figure to our- 

 selves the possibility of it for the piirpi.se of initituting 

 experiments, or watching coolly the results of experi- 

 ments made by other*. After the discovery of the cow- 



