Volume 1

Mr. Maitland's account of inoculating the small pox vindicated [by himself], from Dr. Wagstaffe's misrepresentations of that practice, with some remarks on Mr. Massey's sermon.

  • Maitland, Charles, 1668-1748.
Date:
1722
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mr. Maitland's account of inoculating the small pox vindicated [by himself], from Dr. Wagstaffe's misrepresentations of that practice, with some remarks on Mr. Massey's sermon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ih comparifbn of the many fad and difafirous Events, which this Diftempci has been, and ever will be very fruitful of, while it is left to rage in its full Force and Violence. Sir, I doubt not but when you have col¬ lected a fufficient number of Gbfcrvations for it, you will be able to demonftrate ,* that the Hazard in this Method is very inconfiderable, in proportion to that in the ordinary way by accidental Contagion, fo fmall, that it ought not to deter any body from making ufc of it. In order to fatisfy my felf, what Proportion the Number of thofe that die of the Small Rox, might bear to the whole Number that Is feized with the Diilempef; in the Natural way, I have made fome Enquiry hereabouts, and I fhall take the Freedom to tranfmit the Accounts to you, becaufe I believe you may depend upon their being taken with fufficient Care and Impartiality. In Halifax finee the Beginning of laft Winter, 276 have had the Smallpox, and out of that Number 43 have died. In Rochdale, a fmall Neighbouring Market Town, 177 have had the Diftemper, and 3 8 have died. In Leeds, 792 have had the Small Rox, and 189 have died. It is to be noted, that in this Town, the Small Rox have been more favourable this Seafon than ufual, and in Leeds they have been more than ufually mortal 5 but upon a Medium in thefe three Towns, there have died nearly 22 out of every hundred, which is above a fifth I \Part )