An inquiry into the laws of epidemics : with remarks on the plans lately proposed for exterminating the small-pox / by Joseph Adams.

  • Adams, Joseph, 1756-1818.
Date:
1809
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry into the laws of epidemics : with remarks on the plans lately proposed for exterminating the small-pox / by Joseph Adams. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    During this uncertainty, it was with particular fatisfadtion that I perufed a pamphlet* written with the belt intentions, and with no lefs perfpicuity and order. The value of the work was much heightened by the general view which it contains of contagion and the quarantine laws. It has of- ten occurred to me, that whiid the public mind is fo much engaged on the fubjedt of fmall-pox, it might be podible to lead them to fome rational and well diredted inquiries concerning epidemics in ge- neral j a fubjedt which has either been wholly over- looked, or treated without order and without dis- crimination. The learned author has condudted his inquiry, I doubt not, with perfedt corredtnefs, as far as it is connedted with his own profeflional purfuits. On the medical part he has touched with fuch caution, as evidently fhows his widi that the Faculty lhould enter upon it more minutely. The work commences with a doubt, whether it would be confident with Britifh liberty, to redrain fmall-pox inoculation. To me thefe doubts have always appeared a matter of furprife. Had the queftion been concerning the poffibility of inforcing a law to redrain inoculation, it might admit of a doubt, whether, like many others, it would not ope- rate againd the confcientious, without redraining the unprincipled or unfeeling; admitting, however, not only the power of the legislature to make, but alfo * Letter to the Right Honourable Spencer Percival. lint chard, IS07. to