A letter to a doctor of Sorbon: being an impartial examination of the reasons for, and against inoculation the small-pox.

Date:
1750
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A letter to a doctor of Sorbon: being an impartial examination of the reasons for, and against inoculation the small-pox. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    cfesavour to ftrike out fome Light, for the prefervatloil of the Species, with Refpedt to a Diftemper, which makes fuch Havock in thefe Northern Climates. In fuch a Cafe all Auxiliaries are to be called in. Surely in this deplorable Diftemper, no Man of common Hu¬ manity will write for, or againft any Praftice, merely for writing fake, or to magnify his Learning, or to efpoufe a Party-caufe, and the like: That would almoft be fporting in Earneft, with Human Mifery. What ever may be the right Method of treating the Small-pox, ’tis Fa£t, it has not been thoroughly found out yet: Such numbers, as are daily fwept away by it, may be a convincing Proof of it. I have heard learned Phylicians affirm, that when full grown Perfons are feized with it, particularly of High-life, high fed, £f?c. they are generally given for loft: The very Fear of ic in the Patients themfelves, when full grown, is often as fatal to them as the Diftemper: Whereas it is certain, where fuch Perfons are prepared for it, and Inoculated by their own Confent,that Fear is very much leffened* I will not affirm, that fo many die through any Defeft in the modern Practice, but from the fatality of the Diftemper; perhaps increafed by our Luxury and way of Living: However we have deplorable Examples,in the better fort of Families, who are taken off, when they come to be full grown, Men and Women; who in all probability would have efcaped, had they been Inoculated, or had taken it when they are young. Yet perfons out of I don’t know what fort ofTendernefsfor their Children, will keep them up, as the Saying is, to be out of Danger, till they are full grown, and out of tneir Parents and Guardians Power; That is, till they