The Story of a Great Delusion in a Series of Matter-of-Fact ChaptersWhite, William
History
The Story of a Great Delusion in a Series of Matter-of-Fact Chapters
White, William
Vaccination
meddle with what others might imagine (however absurdly) tended to
their own preservation and that of their families, but no one had a
right to endanger the lives of others. It was proved beyond dispute
that those who were inoculated with smallpox diffused the fatal
contagion by going abroad, or being carried abroad. He thought,
therefore, it was not only the right, but the duty of the State to
oblige those who were infected with smallpox to keep within doors
until complete recovery. He would not move an amendment to the
resolution, but would have no hesitation in acceding to a larger
sum.
General TARLETON could not withhold his tribute of praise from
the author of this blessing to mankind. To his knowledge, it had
saved the lives of many in his Majesty’s service. Soldiers could
march and perform every military duty when under the process of
vaccination. It had been said that gentlemen in the army had no
respect for anything save success in war, but he thought that many
officers knew how to admire Jenner, the preserver of millions, and
to allow that in future ages his glory would exceed the renown of
the greatest warriors.
Mr. STURGES BOURNE denounced the practice of inoculating
out-patients at the Smallpox Hospital whereby the disease was
systematically perpetuated and diffused throughout the community.
He thought the legislature would be as much justified in taking
measures to prevent this evil by restraint, as a man would be in
snatching a firebrand out of the hands of a maniac just as he was
going to set fire to a city.
Mr. HAWKINS BROWNE confessed with shame that he had voted for
£10,000 instead of £20,000 in 1802; but at that time he little
knew the extent of Jenner’s service to the human race.
Mr. EDWARD MORRIS did not think that even what had been said
sufficiently set forth their debt of gratitude to Jenner. His
discovery afforded a reasonable expectation of the extermination
of smallpox, and the merit of the transcendent discovery was all
his own. Inoculation in the old mode mitigated the disease in a
few, and spread it in full fury over many. It was therefore a
curse to mankind instead of a blessing. The Smallpox Hospital in
its practice of inoculation, was a source of pestilence and a
multiplier of victims to this deplorable distemper. The pre-eminent
distinction of Vaccination was that it preserved its subject and
injured no one. This unspeakable blessing they owed to Jenner,
nor had the least improvement been effected upon his original and
carefully matured prescription. They were bound to consider how
he had abandoned the lucrative pursuit of his profession, and
surrendered many years of his life for the good of his country and
mankind. He would therefore submit an amendment to the resolution
before the Committee, that the grant be £20,000 instead of £10,000,
to mark their sense of Jenner’s merits and to place him in a state
of independence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account