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
Whereas, Doctor JOHN WALKER has, under various pretences,
obstructed persons going to the Central House of this Society,
the Public are hereby warned to be upon their guard against any
insidious representations, the connection between Dr. WALKER and
the Society having ceased, and Dr. KNOWLES having been appointed
the Resident Inoculator at the Society’s House, No. 14 Salisbury
Square.
_By Order of the Directors and Medical Council, 9th October,
1806._
It was all in vain. Walker was preferred to Sheridan Knowles
backed by Jenner, whose friends had no liking for the support of
the Society out of their own pockets. It was therefore planned
to resort to Parliament for an annual subsidy so as dispense
with the necessity of subscriptions. The managers of the London
Vaccine Institution, learning what was on foot, naturally argued
that if Government was to be thus propitious, it was they who had
the better claim to assistance, and therefore prepared a petition
setting forth their exertions in spreading Vaccine Inoculation.
This interference with their scheme filled the Jennerians with
fury, and Mr. JOHN FULLER undertook to speak their mind in the
House of Commons. When, therefore, on 2nd June, 1808, Sir THOMAS
TURTON presented the petition, FULLER sprang to his feet and
denounced it, saying a grosser forgery had never been submitted to
the House.
The SPEAKER interposed. The petition had not been read. When it
was, the House would be enabled to judge of its contents. Mr.
FULLER resumed his seat amid general laughter. The petition having
been read--
Mr. FULLER apologised for his abruptness. The petition was a
gross cheat, a wicked trick to swindle the public; or, if it was
not absolute swindling, it went very near the wind. When they
came to solicit his subscription, he thought they represented
some respectable corporation, but what did they turn out to be?
A parcel of Quakers, or Presbyterians, or whatever else they
were called. They had got five guineas from him, but the moment
he detected them, he threatened them with a Bow Street officer
and a charge of swindling, which soon frightened them into a
re-delivery of his money. What a shame it was to see the cause
of such fellows espoused by any man in that House! He did not
suppose the Honourable Baronet shared in their gains, and he might
laugh as he pleased, and spout like a lawyer, but it was a poor
way to show himself off for the sake of a little notoriety among
such despicable sectaries. He hoped the House would not lend any
countenance to the imposture.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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