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
[175] _A Review of the Report of the Royal College of Physicians of
London on Vaccination._ By Benjamin Moseley, M.D. London, 1808. Pp.
86.
[176] _The Roll of the Royal College of Physicians comprising
Biographical Sketches._ By William Munk, M.D. London, 1878.
[177] _Cowpox Inoculation no Security against Smallpox Infection.
To which are added the Modes of treating the Beastly New Diseases
produced from Cowpox, explained by two coloured copper-plate
engravings, as_--
_Cowpox Mange_ _Cowpox Evil or Abscess_
_Cowpox Ulcers_ _Cowpox Mortification_.
_With the Author’s certain, experienced and successful mode of
Inoculating for the Smallpox which now becomes necessary from
Cowpox Failure, etc._ By William Rowley, M.D., Member of the
University of Oxford, the Royal College of Physicians, London, and
Physician to the St. Marylebone Infirmary. London, 1805. Pp. 82.
The first edition appeared 4th October, 1805, and a third 27th
January, 1806.
[178] _Observations on the Cowpox showing that it originates in
Scrophula, commonly called the Evil; illustrated with Cases to
prove that it is no Security against the Smallpox. Also pointing
out the dreadful Consequences of this new Disease, so recently and
rashly introduced into the Human Constitution._ By R. Squirrel,
M.D., formerly Resident Apothecary to the Smallpox and Inoculation
Hospital. London, 1805. Pp. 76. A Second edition appeared in 1806.
[179] Baron’s _Life of Jenner_, vol. ii., p. 367.
CHAPTER XXII.
WILLIAM COBBETT.
Everybody appeals to common-sense, but what is common-sense? It is
a question difficult to answer; and yet, as I propose to show that
Cobbett’s opposition to vaccination was justified by common-sense,
I am bound to give some definition of the term.
Common-sense is reason as evolved from common experience. What
the multitude of men have found to be true in the course of
life, that is common-sense, which to question or resist is folly
or fanaticism. This vulgar and vigorous rationality is often
summoned to service where it has no vocation. For example, when
it was first taught that the earth was a sphere and that its
inhabitants had antipodes, the revelation was denounced as contrary
to common-sense; but it is obvious that in such a case (which
represents myriads) it was wrongly invoked; the form of the earth
being at the time outside common cognisance. As soon, however,
as it was realised by experience that the earth was spherical
and inhabited in all its quarters, then its rotundity became
incorporated in the constitution of common-sense.
The realm of common-sense I therefore hold to be limited by its
origin in common experience, and in matters above or beyond
that experience, its dicta are illegitimate, and synonyms for
presumption and prejudice.
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