Oh' Vaccination, 



[April, 



vanced ; namely, of epidemics terminated or circumscribed, of 

 their periodical returns prevented, by the number of vaccina- 

 tions ; and of th© small-pox not only rendered rare, but of its 

 being quite unknown in particular places, since the introduction 

 of vaccination. The same phenomena are attested by the 

 Minister of the Interior of the kingdom of Italy, especially ia 

 the epidemics observed at Brescia and Milan. The physicians 

 of Geneva attest the annihilation of the small-pox in their town. 

 The diminution of mortality, and the increased population, in 

 consequence, have been ascertained at Rouen, at Creuznacb, at 

 Bezan9on, in the departments of the Upper Rhine, of Dor- 

 dogne, &c. and even in some quarters of Paris. These are 

 irrefragable proofs of the advantages which may be expected 

 from the discovery of Jenner.* 



In the account which we have given to the Institute of the 

 results obtained from the introduction of the cow-pox into 

 France, after 1 2 years' experience, we have only collected facts 

 of undoubted authenticity. We were of opinion that the more 

 advantageous the consequences, drawn from any observations, the 

 more numerous they ought to be. We have rejected all the 

 cases where the advantages resulting might be ascribed to peculiar 

 circumstances in the case. It was not our intention to conceal 

 any of the motives, or any of the facts, on which the objections 

 made against vaccination have been founded. We have com- 

 pared both sides of each question together ; and we have aimed 

 less at drawing absolute and exclusive consequences than at 

 obtaining the requisite degree of exactness to*determine as much 

 as possible the measure of probability, and to estimate in conse- 

 quence the value of the discovery, and the services which it may 

 render to mankind. 



We think we have established, in a satisfactory manner, that 

 the virus of cow-pox does not introduce into the body any 



* Sec the work of M. Dovillard, on the Influence of Small-pox on Popula- 

 tion. Paris, 1806. Bibl. Brit. vol. xxxvi. p. 376. 



A detail on the state of vaccination in the departoent of the Rliiue and the~ 

 Moselle, on the 1st January, 1809, by M. Lezay-Marnezia, prefect of the 

 department. Bibl. Brit. vol. xlii. p. 182. 



The details given by the same prefect in 1810 announce the disappearacce of 

 the small-pox in his deparlmerst, and the increase of population by the vacci- 

 nation of 991 1 infants, almost the whole that were born within the year. 



The details of tiie civil state of Rouen attest a diminution of the mortality 

 of 4354 individuals in eight years, or more than 500 a-year. 



The comparison made at Besancon by M. Barrey of the deaths during the last 

 Bine years, with those of the nine years preceding the establishment of vacci- 

 aatioDj gives a diminution of 1619 individuals, all in the first ten years of 

 life. 



In the department of Dordogoe M. le Baron Maurice, Prefect of the de- 

 partment, announces in six years an excess of births above deaths wbicb 

 amounted to 4449 for 1810, and to 22,007 for the whole ten years. 



