A plain statement of facts, in favour of the cow-pox, intended for circulation through the middle and lower classes of society / by John Thomson.

  • Thomson, John, 1765-1846.
Date:
1809
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A plain statement of facts, in favour of the cow-pox, intended for circulation through the middle and lower classes of society / by John Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    make cvery fnan liis own brewer, but you Caiiiiot jnake every man his own physician. You nnay teach by book general principles, but you cannot teach that skilful application oi them to particular cases, which constitutes the whole art of medicine. The mcans arc limited and iinperfect, but the varying their use and theai^apting them to circuinstances, are indefinite, and iiot to be taughi by book. I would not it I could, make every man hisown inoculator, or the inoculatorof his childrcn, any more than I would makc cvery man his own tailor or his own slioe- maker. Tlic folly and thc mischief of tliis have already becn pointed out. My desire to be as short as possible, has preventcd my dwelling on many partsof theevidence of great importance, and vvhich by amplibcation might perhaps have been placed iii a stronger light. I have nqt taken my leadcr into those digrcs- sions from the snbject, w^cii tiiougli the least explored, and strewn with gratification and information, are yet bye paths, but have ied him through a public and beaten road, without being turned from thc object oi our journey, either to the right hand or to the lett. Sucli as have travelled with me thus tar may be glad ot reacbing a restmg-place. 1 have endeavoured to give a plain statement of an important discovery and practice. The merits ot ttie discoverer, Dr. Jenner, his perseverance and candour, his sacrifice of self-intercst in perfecting his discovery, and his disinterestedness in immediately making public, wliat if prac- tised in secret wouid have made hiin a rapid and immensc fortune, are above all praise. Some indeed have opposed his ciaims. others with a mean jeaiousy have dciracted from his nierits, nay, sorne rcptiies witli a baser purpose and a low creep- ing malignity, have lurked in his path, and spit their hissing venom at him. But in vain ; the destruction ofa loathsome and fatal diseasc^ and thc immense saving oj human life, are facts that speak for thcmxeives, and put to silence aii cavil. If a parcnt's eye will rcad, and aparent's mind meditate upoii the cvidence in favour of the Cow-pox, a parent's heart must feel the sacred duty of preserving by such simple and innocent means from the dangcr and deformity of ihe Small-pox. If, by your neglect of this mcans, your child is attacked and fails a victim to tlie Smali-pox, are you not the murderer of your child ? or if by your inoculating your child vvich the Small-pox, thecontagion is brought by you intothe neighbourhood, spreads into the nurseries around you, and commiis its slaughter there, is not the blood of these children upon your head ? Tiiink of these tliings as you please, but I would not for the weaith oi worlds, have such a reflection to press heavily on my soul, F I N I s. —=>9-K-®eBP- {Vricc Six-pcncc.'] Hotd.n ind Dovysod. Printfra,