Observations on the causes of the prevalence of smallpox, and on the means of preventing the dissemination of that disease / [Alexander Monro].

  • Monro, Alexander, 1773-1859
Date:
1826]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the causes of the prevalence of smallpox, and on the means of preventing the dissemination of that disease / [Alexander Monro]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ON THE CAUSES OF THE PREVALENCE OF SMALLPOX, AND ON THE MEANS OF PREVENTING THE DISSEMINATION OF THAT DISEASE. By ALEXANDER MONRO, M. D. F. R. S. E Professor of Anatomy and Surgery in the University of Edinburgh, President of the Royal College of Physicians, &c. From the Edinburgh Journal of Medical Science. There can be no doubt entertained as to the comparative safety of smallpox and cowpox, the former, when caught by contagion, or even when received by inoculation, being fre¬ quently, even under the best management, a malignant and fa¬ tal disorder; whereas the latter is much more mild, seldom or never fatal, and is not a cause, like the smallpox, of any imme¬ diate or consequent disease, or even of blemish. In these circumstances, it is matter of regret that prejudice or inattention should render any parent so blind to the welfare of his child, as to lead him to substitute the smallpox inocula¬ tion for that of the cowpox. Considering the unfavourable bias which public opinion has received against the cowpox as a pre¬ ventive of smallpox, it seems necessary to inquire into the ori¬ gin and validity of such prejudices, and to examine into all their bearings, in order to determine whether they be well or ill founded. 2