REMARKS ON VACCINATION AND INOCULATION.
Things stood thus, when Dr. JENNER, reflecting on the acknowledged fact that persons who in their attendance on cattle had been infected by the Variola Vaccinia (commonly denominated Cowpox) were thereby rendered invulnerable to the direful kindred disease, came to the conclusion, that as inoculation was so easily performed, it was probable the milder disease might be introduced into the human system by similar means, and act equally as a preservative, pos- sessing the immense advantage of being perfectly harmless. It did not admit of a doubt, that such a discovery would be one of the greatest benefits that could be bestowed on the inhabitants of the earth; and JENNER laboured with the greatest exertion to ascertain the possibility, and to establish the efficacy of this experi- ment. Opponents to the system appeared in every gradation of knowledge and influence; but it was finally victorious, and Europe, Asia, and America, echoed with congratulation and applause. The British Parliament awarded to Dr. Jere NEU a moderate sum of money, as some indemnification for the expense he had bestowed, and the time he had devoted to the introduction of Vaccination.
The world was highly indebted to Dr. JENNER for calling the public notice to the facility of Vaccination, and probably he might not be aware it had ever been previously performed ; yet his was not the first sagacious mind that descried this city of refuge; for in the anxious investigation of every circumstance that could elucidate the affinity of the two diseases, it was made known, that a Dore
setahire yeoman had many years before, in an hour of apprehension for the safety of his family, boldly performed this operation, happening to have the mild diS-, order prevalent amongst his dairy cattle at the same time that a virulent smallpox was raging in his immediate neighbourhopd. If I mistake not, one or more of this family were examined by a committee employed in investigating the efficacy of the practice ; and it was regarded as an incontrovertible proof of its value, for
none of the family so treated had ever taken the smallpox.
. Now came the triumphant period of Vaccination. The most laudable care was bestowed on the operation ; the greatest solicitude was evinced that the virus should be genuine and wew ; every symptom of the patient's state, every change in the appearance of the pustules, was sedulously observed, and coloured engra- vings consulted from day to day, that the minutest variation might not pass wino. ticed ; and under this careful management the success was wonderful, and even the most cautious minds entertained a serious hope, that Providence had at length blessed mankind with a deliverance from one of the most direful scourges that afflicted the earth.
This sunshine unhappily was soon clouded over ; for the strong persuasion of security seemed to induce an utter renunciation of all prudent caution,--anybody and everybody being thought competent to vaccinate. An idea so destructive had the eflect which might have been anticipated ; multitudes were vaccinated with as little consideration as marking a flock of sheep, and pronounced, after a casual inspection of their arms a few days after, to be perfectly safe: nay, it was even reported, that in one place some spurious disorder (I know not what) had been mistaken for the Variola Vaccinia, and propagated instead of it. The in- evitable consequence of such proceedings made a great alteration in the public opinion ; and observing people lamented, that if these practices were continued even a short time, Vaccination must entirely lose its ground in the estimation of the world. From this fatal termination the system was rescued ; and I believe the operation at present is seldom performed except with proper care, and usually (if not always) by medical men : but, whether lessened in efficacy, or if it is pub. lic opinion that has altered I know not, indubitably the general ideas concerning it are very different from what they were during the time I have denominated its triumphant period. The smallpox, so far from being annihilated, is continually in action ; and whenever it appears in a neighbourhood, parents who wish to have their children inoculated, or adults who wish it for themselves, receive not unfrequently, it is said, directions from their medical advisers how to get over the operation, when the latter do not like to be pointed out as the propagators of the smallpox. It may be alleged probably, that this is preferable to leaving their pa. tients a prey to ignorance; but it is a dreadful state of things where a subject of such incalculable importance is concerned ; and I would earnestly beseech me- dical gentlemen of established fame and fortune, and who can govern prejudice instead of yielding to it, to declare nobly their sentiments concerning the direful original disease, and its two preservatives.
I humbly presume there are a few points of the highest consequence, forming the vital principles of Vaccination ; and no pains should be spared to elucidate these principles anew, in the present confused state of opinion.
In the first place, Has it ever been known that any human being who had
taken the cowpox from the animal was afterwards affected by the contagion of smallpox; or was any individual who had passed through the smallpox ever known to take the cowpox, however exposed to the latter by attendance on cattle ? If a decided negative could be given to these questions, it might be con. eluded that the Almighty his permitted a means of certain preservation to exist. I was present, many years since, Oben a lady entreated the most experienced ino- culator for the smallpox that ever lived, to tell her confidentially his unreserved opinion of Vaccination : his serious reply was, that amongst the thousands whom he had inoculated, he never knew one.person take the disorder who had caught the infection of the cowpox from cattle; further than this, he declined to give a positive opinion, though he appeared to think favourably of Vaccination. Could it be thus proved to conviction that an antidote does exist, the next step would be the important inquiry, whether Vaccination immediately from the ani- mal might be relied on as affording a means of safety equally certain with that conferred by the act of Nature ; and whether there is any danger of the infection being too strong or any way hazardous when acquired from cattle by such a method. Be it remembered, that the family of the sagacious Dorsetsbire yeoman was preserved in this manner. In arguments respecting Vaccination, the circum- stance seems to be forgotten, that people receiving the infection by being vac- cinated from a pure animal standing by their side, is a very different thing from an operation performed by the aid of virus conveyed between pieces of glass a considerabk distance, (frequently several hundred miles), or at all events trans- mitted through numerous human subjects of various constitutions.
Were the researches of scientific men successful thus far, and it was satisfacto-
rily proved that the cowpox whether taken naturally, or by the aid of Vaccina.: tion immediately from cattle, had never been known to fail as a preservative from the contagion of smallpox, a third momentous point would remain, as the con- cluding investigation, viz. whether the transmission, by Vaccination, from afirst to a second human subject would insure the same future safety; and to how many degrees from the source it might be prudent to rely upon it. If what I have said should induce more strict attention to this cause of so much apprehension and terror, I trust the readers of the SPECTATOR will not think your pages misapplied in bringing before the public these humble remarks of
A SOLITAIRE.
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