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
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu returned to England in 1718, but not
until 1721 did she fulfil her intention of making war on the
doctors, and incurring their resentment for the good of mankind.
In the spring of 1721 she commenced action in earnest by the
inoculation of her daughter--the infant that it was considered
unsafe to “engraft” when at Pera in 1718. In Maitland’s words--
The noble Lady sent for me last April, and when I came, she
told me she was now resolved to have her daughter inoculated,
and desired me forthwith to find out matter for the purpose. I
pleaded for a delay of a week or two, the weather being then cold
and wet. I also prayed, that any two physicians whom she thought
fit, might be called, not only to consult the health and safety
of the child, but likewise to be eye witnesses of the practice,
and contribute to the credit and reputation of it. This was at
first denied me, it might be out of a design to keep it secret,
or lest it should come to nothing.
In the meantime having found proper matter, I engrafted the child
in both arms, after the usual manner. She continued easy and well
till the tenth night, when she was observed to be a little hot
and feverish. An ancient apothecary in the neighbourhood being
then called, prudently advised not to give the child medicine,
assuring the parents there was no danger, and that the heat would
quickly abate, which accordingly it did, and the smallpox began
next morning to appear. Three learned physicians of the college
were admitted, one after another, to visit the young lady; they
are all gentlemen of honour, and will on all occasions declare,
as they have done hitherto, that they saw Miss Wortley playing
about the room, cheerful and well, with the smallpox raised
upon her; and that in a few days after she perfectly recovered
of them. Several ladies, and other persons of distinction, also
visited this young patient, and can attest the truth of this fact.
One of the learned physicians who had visited Miss Wortley,
having some years since fully informed himself of this method
of practice, and being thoroughly satisfied of the safety and
reasonableness of it, at length resolved to try it in his own
family; he had formerly lost some children in a very malignant
kind of the smallpox, and therefore advised me to lose no time to
engraft the only son he had left. The boy (who was not quite six
years of age) being of a pretty warm and sanguine complexion, the
Doctor ordered about five ounces of blood to be taken from him;
and then, in ten days after, having found matter which he liked,
I inoculated him in both arms. This was performed the 11th of
May, 1721.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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