[77] Nichols’s _Illustrations of Literary History_, vol. iv. p. 499. [78] _The Times_, 23rd Oct. and 4th Dec., 1879. [79] Baron’s _Life of Jenner_, vol. i. p. 107. [80] _An Appeal to the Public on Vaccination._ By John Birch. [81] Dr. Adams in _Medical Journal_, 1810, p. 31. Dr. Gregory in his treatise on _Eruptive Fevers_, 1843, cites and endorses this argument. [82] Article, “Vital Statistics: Epidemics,” in M‘Culloch’s _Statistical Account of the British Empire_. [83] _Domestic Medicine._ Chap. lvi. Concerning the Diet of the Common People. [84] Baron’s _Life of Jenner_, vol. ii. pp. 348 and 410. PART II.--VACCINATION. CHAPTER I. JENNER’S EARLIER YEARS. The competent biographer, it is said, must be an admirer of his subject, for only so far as he sympathises can he understand. _Tout comprendre c’est tout pardonner._ But I neither propose to write a Life of Jenner, nor do I believe it essential to insight to sympathise where compelled to reprobate. In Jenner’s case we have to deal with an accident rather than with a vigorous personification of evil. It was his fate to have a happy (or unhappy) thought, adapted to the humour and practice of his time, which was immediately caught up and carried to world-wide issues. In himself, he was as ordinary a character as was ever thrust into greatness. For the mischief of his thought, some of his contemporaries were as responsible as himself--some, indeed, more blameworthy. With Bishop Butler I may ask, “Why may not whole communities be seized with fits of insanity, as well as individuals?” and with him aver, “Nothing else can account for a great part of what we read in history.” The common mind passes at times into unwholesome conditions, wherein the words of Paul are exemplified, “For this cause shall God send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.” Edward Jenner, the son of a clergyman, was born at Berkeley, Gloucestershire, on 17th May, 1749. After the usual education of a youth of his class, he was apprenticed to Mr. Ludlow, surgeon and apothecary, of Sodbury, near Bristol; and on the completion of his time (1770) was sent to London, where he resided for two years with Dr. John Hunter, who increased his means for scientific inquiry by the reception of pupils, caring much more for his menagerie at Brompton than for patients, and utilising his pupils as assistants in his researches. Captain Cook returned from his first voyage of discovery in 1771, and his collection of specimens of natural history was assigned to Hunter for arrangement, who set Jenner to work upon them; and, it is said, he did his duty so well that he was offered the appointment of naturalist in Cook’s next expedition. Jenner was, however, eager to commence business as country surgeon, and in 1772, at the age of 23, he returned to his native vale, legally qualified by his experience at Sodbury, and his two years with Hunter, to practise at discretion on the good folk of Berkeley.