218 EDWARD TENNER 



you will perceive, by the continuation of my cases enclosed 

 in this letter, 4 by which it will appear that since the 22d of 

 March I have inoculated an hundred and seven persons; 

 which, considering the retired situation I resided in, is a 

 very great number. There are also other considerations 

 which, besides that of its influence in resisting the small- 

 pox, appear to have had their weight; the peculiar mild- 

 ness of the disease, the known safety of it, and its not 

 having in any instance prevented the patient from fol- 

 lowing his ordinary business. In all the cases under my 

 care there have only occurred two or three which required 

 any application, owing to erysipelatous inflammation on 

 the arm, and they immediately yielded to it. In the re- 

 mainder the constitutional illness has been slight but suf- 

 ficiently marked, and considerably less than I ever ob- 

 served in the same number inoculated with the smallpox. 

 In only one or two of the cases have any other eruptions 

 appeared than those around the spot where the matter was 

 inserted, and those near the infected part. Neither does 

 there appear in the cow-pox to be the least exciting cause 

 to any other disease, which in the smallpox has been 

 frequently observed, the constitution remaining in as full 

 health and vigour after the termination of the disease as 

 before the infection. Another important consideration ap- 

 pears to be the impossibility of the disease being com- 

 municated except by the actual contact of the matter of the 

 pustule, and consequently the perfect safety of the re- 

 maining part of the family, supposing only one or two 

 should wish to be inoculated at the same time. 



" Upon the whole, it appears evident to me that the 

 cow-pox is a pleasanter, shorter, and infinitely more safe 

 disease than the inoculated smallpox when conducted in 

 the most careful and approved manner; neither is the local 

 affection of the inoculated part, or the constitutional ill- 

 ness, near so violent. I speak with confidence on the sub- 

 ject, having had an opportunity of observing its effects 

 upon a variety of constitutions, from three months old 

 to sixty years; and to which I have paid particular at- 



4 Doctor Marshall has detailed these cases with great accuracy, but their 

 oublication would now be deemed superfluous. E. J. 





