1§13.] On Vacciiiation, 



to mere accident, they would in a great measure supply the place 

 of exact observations, and would produce a certain degree of 

 probability in their favour. 



By attending to all these particulars we shall endeavour to give 

 an answer to the question proposed. 



We shall begin with the observations which have been givea 

 as proofs that there exist diseases which owe their origin to 

 vaccination. 



Among those that have been published, or that have come 

 to our knowledge, there are very few which, considered sepa- 

 rately, have the character of exact observations ; and not one 

 possesses the conditions necessary to fix the relation of the malady 

 noticed to the previous vaccination. 



Out of eleven observations that have been particularly- 

 communicated to us, and which, from the precision with which 

 the facts were announced, as well as the nature of tiie evidence 

 of those who communicated them, seemed to deserve particular 

 attention, we have had it in our power to verify seven. All of 

 these seven were formally and authentically denied by occular 

 witnesses, most assiduous, and consequently best acquainted with 

 the facts, either from situation, or the interest whicli attached 

 them to the children who were the subject of these observations. 

 We can only suppose that the persons, v/ho communicated to us 

 these observations, wlio were well-informed persons without any 

 motive to deceive, were led into error by false reports concerning 

 things which they had not been able to see with their own eyes. 

 After this it was natural for os to suspect the authenticity of the 

 oth^r facts which had come to our knowledge by the same means^ 

 though we had it not in our power to verify them by actual 

 inquiry. 



A fact reported to the medical society of Grenoble has been 

 mentioned, and it is advanced in the work of M. Cliappon 

 as a proof of the bad effects of vaccination,* A child after 

 vaccination had the face covered with pimples, which were 

 succeeded by scabs that gave the face a hideous appearance. 

 This was followed by an anasarca, and the case ended fatallyc. 

 Notv/ithstanding the v^'ant of details in this case, it is easy to 

 perceive in it that eruption so familiar to infants, and known by 

 the vulgar name of croute laiteuse [crusta lactea). Its appear- 

 ance after vaccination does not prove that it had any thing ia 

 common with it. We frequently see the suppression of such 

 eruptions produce very severe symptoms without the presence of 

 vaccination, commonly either in the head or the organs of 

 respiration. 



The little exactness in the other observations which vv^e might 



* Chappon, p, 131, 135. 

 .s2 



