Letters to Dr. Rowley, on his late pamphlet, entitled "Cow-pox inoculation, no security against small-pox infection." / By Aculeus.

  • Aculeus, pseud.
Date:
1805
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Letters to Dr. Rowley, on his late pamphlet, entitled "Cow-pox inoculation, no security against small-pox infection." / By Aculeus. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ninety and two ! Of all the species of “ madness” re¬ corded in your false system, history of medicine, a string of which graces one of your notes to the pamphlet, not one is to be found so pernicious in its effects as the Cow-pox ; this ridiculous innova¬ tion has nearly ruined the business of the apothe¬ cary, as well as the practice of the Small-pox ino- culators, for no medicine is necessary, none of Squirrel s “ tonic drops ” or “ powdersno opening draughts , no antisceptic nostrums ; whereas, in the old practice, phials, powders, pills, and drops, have been standi p* etcetera in every doctors bill since O i \ the days of Hippocrates ; besides, sir, the under¬ takers complain with great reason; having never had a job from the Cow-pock since its first appear¬ ance.—Such conduct as the Vaccinators’, to say the least of it, is very ungenerous ; they have not the liberality like you, sir, to make an allowance of eight per cent, for the benefit of trade, but keep all to themselves. These gentlemen, as 3011 term them, should be “ more modest and less conceited, and en¬ deavour to learn their profession from the most learn¬ ed, intelligent, and experienced,” like yourself; we should not then have such ‘’crudities” as Vacci¬ nation, Pneumatic Medicine, Electricity, &c. &c. No Cow pock, no Gas and Vital Air Madness, by which such “violent enthusiasts” as Doctors Jenner, Pear¬ son, and l h arnton, have disgraced themselves, and im¬ posed upon the whole scientific world ; no such da¬ ring projects would then he heard of; but things would go on in their old way, and the order of Pro¬ vidence be no longer disturbed, by calling in the elements, and the very Cows, to protract the term of life; people would then die “ a natural death” and mankind no more presume, with impious hand, to interfere with the will of heaven. In m3' next, I shall say more on this subject, on which you have thrown so much light by your pamphlet, and immortalized your name. At pre-