Brown remained victor. He did not overthrow vaccination, nor restore variolation, but he did make an end in Scotland of confidence in vaccination as an omnipotent safeguard against smallpox. The rite continued to be practised on humbler terms: “it did no harm”: even Mr. Brown allowed that it might keep off smallpox for a time: and “there was reason to believe that it tended to make the disease milder when it did occur.” Thirty years after his first publication, in 1842, Brown reaffirmed his position in a series of letters[168] to Dr. George Gregory, a sympathetic friend, and advised a return to variolation in view of “the acknowledged defects of the Jennerian practice”--a dismal alternative. But it is in vain to expect any man to be _much_ in advance of his time: it suffices for honourable distinction that he _be_ in advance. When Brown commenced practice, smallpox and other fevers were regarded as inevitable as storms and earthquakes, and the knowledge with which we are now so familiar, that they are engendered in foul habits and habitations, was for practical purposes unknown. Our reproach is, that knowing so much better, we surrender ourselves to a superstitious observance conceived in days of darkness. FOOTNOTES: [164] _Cases of Smallpox subsequent to Vaccination, with Facts and Observations read before the Medical Society at Portsmouth, 29th March, 1804: addressed to the Directors of the Vaccine Institution._ By William Goldson. Portsea, 1884. [165] Baron’s _Life of Jenner_, vol. ii. pp. 338, 346, 348. [166] _An Inquiry into the Anti-Variolous Power of Vaccination; in which from the state of the Phenomena and the Occurrence of a great variety of Cases, the most Serious Doubts are suggested of the Efficacy of the Whole Practice, and its Powers at best proved to be only temporary. From which also will appear the Necessity of and the proper period for again submitting to Inoculation with Variolous Virus._ By Thomas Brown, Surgeon, Musselburgh. Edinburgh, 1809. Pp. 307. [167] _Report of the Surgeons of the Edinburgh Vaccine Institution, containing an Examination of the Opinions and Statements of Mr. Brown of Musselburgh on Vaccination._ Edinburgh, 1809. [168] _An Investigation of the Present Unsatisfactory and Defective State of Vaccination, and the Several Expedients proposed for removing the now Acknowledged Defects of the Jennerian practice. In a Series of Letters addressed to Dr. George Gregory, Physician to the Smallpox and Vaccination Hospital, London; which also are intended as an Answer to the Queries of the Academy of Science in Paris, proposed as the subject of a Prize Essay._ By Thomas Brown, formerly Medical Practitioner in Musselburgh. Edinburgh, 1842, pp. 139. CHAPTER XXI. MOSELEY, ROWLEY AND SQUIRREL.