A caution against vaccine swindlers, and imposters / by John Ring.

  • Ring, John, 1752-1821.
Date:
1816
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A caution against vaccine swindlers, and imposters / by John Ring. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

    12/168 (page 4)
    Two mercenary Vaccine Institutions were already established in the metropolis ; one by Dr. Wood- ville, the other by Dr. Pearson ; and the author of these observations had established one at his own house, for gratuitous vaccination, and the gratuitous distribution of matter. When I call the other early Vaccine Institutions mercenary, I do not mean to insinuate that any charge was made for inoculation ; but that the matter produced by such inoculations was sold at an exorbitant rate, and produced a golden harvest; of which no satisfactory account has ever yet been given. The matter thus sold at an exorbitant price, and occasionally distributed on conditions advantageous to the distributor, was not always of the best kind. It was, in general, variolous instead of vaccine mat- ter; and produced its natural effect, the small-pox. This created a prejudice against the new practice; and provoked an attack from the pen of Dr. Moseley, who did not understand the subject. Being repeatedly disappointed in my attempts to procure genuine vaccine virus from Dr. Pearson, who, as well as Dr. Woodville, was in the habit of using what originated from that polluted source, the Small-pox Hospital, I applied to Dr. Jenner, who did me the favour to supply me with some of the same sort which he used himself. A medical man whom I introduced to Dr. Jen- proposed the establishment of an Institution, where all subscribers should have a right to procure