1807. ] 
relapsed again into a state of indifference 
and apathy, and the salutary practice 
has come to a stand. It is not easy 
to suggest a remedy for an evil so deeply 
imprinted i n human nature. To in- 
form and instruct the public mind may 
do much, and it will probably be found 
that the progress of vaccination in dif 
ferent parts of the United Kingdoms will 
be in proportion to that instruction. 
Were encouragement given to vaccina- 
tion, by offering it to the poorer classes 
without expence, there is little doubt but 
it would in time supersede the inoculation 
for the small pox, and thereby various 
sources of variolous infection would be cut 
off; but till vaccination becomes gene- 
ral, it will be impossible to prevent the 
constant recurrence of the natural small 
pox by means of those who are inoculated, 
except it should appear proper to the 
legislature to adopt, in its wisdom, some 
measure by which those who still, from 
terror or prejudice, prefer the small pox 
to the vaccine disease, may, in thus con- 
sulting the gratification of their own feel- 
ings, be prevented trom doing mischief to 
their neighbours. 
From the whole of the above conside- 
New Patents lately enrolled, 
57 
rations, the College of Physicians feel it ‘ 
their duty strongly to recommend the 
practice of vaccination. ‘They have been 
led to this conclusion by no preconceived 
opinion, but by the most unbiassed judg- 
ment formed from an irresistible weight 
of evidence which has been laid before: 
them. For when the number, the respec- 
tability, the disinterestedness, and the 
extensive experience of its advocates, is 
compared with the feeble and imperfect 
testimonies of its few opposers; and when 
it is considered that many, “who were 
once adverse to vaccination, have been 
convinced by further trials, and are now to 
be ranked among its warmest supporters, 
the truth seems to be established as firmly 
as the nature of such a question admits 5 
so that the College of Physicians conceive 
that the public may reasonably look for= 
ward with some degree of hope to the time 
when all opposition shall cease, and the 
geveral concurrence of mankind shall at 
length be able to put an end’ to the ra- 
vages at least, if not to the existence, of 
the small pox. 
Lucas Pepys, President. 
10th April, 1807. 
NEW PATENTS LATELY ENROLLED. 
a 
MR. SAMUEL PHELPS’S (CUPER’S BRIDGE, 
LAMBETH,) for @ Method of making 
Kelp, Barilla, and other Alkali, by 
Fermentation, or other Meuns, in Ad- 
dition to Combustion. 
ik kali, sea-wrack, wormwood, 
heath, &c. which afford alkali, are 
to be cut, and slightly dried; aud then they 
are to be mixed with light dung, straw, 
hay, or any dried weeds, in order to give 
a greater firmness to the mass. ‘The 
whole is to be formed into stacks, like 
hay, so as to be defended from rain, and 
undergo fermentation; which having 
taken place, the mass Is to be burntin an 
epen pit, or kiln, or furnace, in the usual 
mode; and towards the end of the com- 
bustion, the fire is to be raised, so as to 
fuse the saline residue. Auother method 
is this: when the stacks have remained 
till they are completely rotten, the alkali 
is separated by first exposing the mass to 
the air to dry and become carbonated, 
aid then separating the saline matter by 
Hixiviation and evaporation; and, lastly, 
by incineration in the pit, kilv, or furnace, 
and the subsequent treatment as usually 
practised, 
Montury Mac. No. 160. 
We are informed by the patentee, that 
the product of alkali, in wet seasons, is 
much less in quantity than that which is 
obtained from plants of the same nature 
and quality without exposure to the ac- 
tion of rains, and thatthe cause of this. 
effect is, that the alkali naturally ex- 
udes from plants during exposure to 
the air, and is carried off from time to 
time by the showers that fall, so that the 
plant or weed becomes exhausted, previ- 
ous to the combustion to which it is a= 
terwards subjected. He farther states, 
that the fermentative process, as above de- 
scribed, prevents the waste of the alkali, 
and favours the general action of the che- 
mical atiinities, so as to afford a greater 
quantity of alkali from like quantities of 
the said plants or weeds, than is afforded 
by the ordinary methods of operation. 
ie 
MR. JAMES WoOD’s (ORMSKIRK,) fur a 
Churn, that may also be used us @ 
Pump. 
The apparatus, by which this business 
is effected, caunot be rendered iutelligi- 
ble to the reader. without the aid of 
figures, which our plan dges not admit; 
1g 
