A letter to the right honourable the Earl of Liverpool, concerning the present state of vaccination : and pointing out the urgent necessity of an immediate investigation, in order to secure the safety and comfort of th public.

  • Brown, Thomas, 1778-1820.
Date:
1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to the right honourable the Earl of Liverpool, concerning the present state of vaccination : and pointing out the urgent necessity of an immediate investigation, in order to secure the safety and comfort of th public. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    men who in other respects deservedly rank at the head of their profession, have little experi- ence in the practice of Vaccination, and almost no opportunities of attending to cases of small- pox succeeding to this process, except such as may be casually pointed out to them, by prac- titioners who attend in opposite circumstances, but whose authority on this point, is, from their more extensive experience, certainly entitled to much greater weight and attention. I must also caution you, my Lord, from allowing your judg- ment to be directed by those members of the pro- fession, who reside in the different capitals of the empire; for independently of the drawbacks against their authority already pointed out, they are accustomed to assume the situation of um- pires upon medical questions, although their knowledge of the subject of dispute can only be acquired from books. Indeed, as far as regards the present inquiry, it may be affirmed, that the great majority of them, never saw small-pox, be- fore their attention was called to them by the question now at issue. Opinions have now again been advanced, which were long since given up as absurd and untenable, and theories dragged into light, which were exploded centuries ago. Dis- eases which were perfectly understood and defin- ed, are now questioned, doubted, and rejected, and all for the purpose of saving the credit of a practice, which if deserving, should stand in need of no such support, and which if undeserv- ing, must fall in despite of it. I trust that no medical practitioner of experience, will allow his