Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: An early report on vaccination for smallpox. Source: Wellcome Collection.
![HE Board of Health for the town of Bo/ton, are happy to have it in their power, this day, to announce to their fellow-citizens the refult of one of the moft complete experiments which per- haps has ever been made, to prove the efficacy of the Cow-Pox, as a preventive againft the Swall- Pox ; and while they take the liberty to congra- tulate the public on this important difcovery, they do éarneftly recommend its introduction generally, and are confident that it will be the means of prefer- pacers andadding tothe happinefs of millions. ‘The utmolt care has been taken, during the ex- fubjoined, for the gratification of every enquirer. n June, 1801, Dr. Jackson addreffed a letter to the Board of Health, requefting their counte- Nance in certain experiments which he contem- eee making, to prove the efficacy of the Cow- ‘ox, as a preventive againft the Small-Pox; to which application the avocations of the Board would not permit that attention which the plan propofed by Dr. Jacxson required. In June, 1802, Dr. Warernouse made a fi- milar application, accompanied with a very mi- nute hiftory of that diforder, from himfelf, and al- fo various documents in proof of its utility, from Societies in New-Yors and elfewhere, who had af- fociated for the purpote of making experiments fi- milar to thofe propofed to be made ky Dr. W. ie which it appeared, that the public in thofe places, were deriving incalculable benefits by a pretty general inoculation. About this time che Small-Pox was raging in the family of Mr. Hot- Den, Fi/h-Street, and three perfons out of five, un- der the care of the Board of Health, had died.— The Cow-pox had obtained miuch credit. The Board of Heulth, deeply affected with the fatal ravages of the Small-pox, in the family be- fore mentioned, and viewing their Inftitution as founded, under Gop, for the prefervation of the health of their fellow-citizens ; and believing, as they did, that this mild and fafe diforder, “ the Coww-Pox,'? might be fubftituted for that fatal and diftreffing one, the Small-pox, fo that if generally adopted, completely to annihilate and blot it from the catalogue of human woes ;—determined, un- der the influence of thefe confiderations, to prove by experiments, to be made under their immediate obfervation, whether their faith in the efficacy of the Cow-pox was well founded or not. With this view, the plan of the experiments pro- pofed were publifhed in the newfpapers, for the _confideration of them fellow-citizens, ‘The Secre- tary of the Board was alfo direéted, in their name, to defire the afliftance of Dogors Lioyp, Dan- ForTH, Rann, Jerrries, Warren, Jarvis, and Wateruouse, who, agreeably to the invitation of the Board, met them at the Health-Offices— Various impediments prefented themfelves in car- rying into effect the plan as publifhed. It was al- ledged, that the diftance of Rainsford’s-Iland from town, would prevent the attendance of the gentlemen concerned, as often as would be re- quifite; and to make them in town, it would be neceffary to have the permiffion of the town, in town-meeting, it being contrary to law to inocu- late with the Small-pox without it. It was there- fore determined to apply for this privilege; and the town being affembled for that purpofe, it was obje(ted to, on the grounds that it would alarm the country, and injure the trade of the town.— After much debate, it was voted by the town— * That the Board have powér to make the expe- riments propofed, without the limits of the town; and to take up fuitable buildings,&c. for that pur- pofe.” It was with much difficulty a place could be obtained, comporting with the vote of the town. But ftarted in the purfuit, the objet, the happinefs of mankind, the Board was determined that no difficulties which perfeverance could fur- mount, fhould divert them from their purpofe. Atlength Mr. Witttams gave permiffion to e- recta fmall building on Noddle's I/and, and to make the propofed experiments there. Thus provided, on the 16th day of Augutt, nineteen children, viz. Daxter Scort, Chambers-Street. Acmarin Crarke, Cornhill. Joun Stussy, Prince-Street. REPORT OF THE Charter-Street. Ozias Goopwin, Geo. Goopwin, Samuex Ricuiz, Ropeart Labaeeaiad Che Lone Reusen Lorine, Willfon’s Lane. Tuomas Truman, Dogget’s Alley. Joun Wyer, i Seta Kine, Wituiam Austin, 4 Joun Harais, i Fifp-Strect. Wma. Greens, Hanover-Strect, Were inoculated with the Cow-pox, at the Health- of gentlemen invited. The phyficians who at- tended were Drs. Lloyd, Rand, Feffries, Warren, and the children went through the diforder to the fatisfaction of the gentlemen phyficians, and of this Freth Small-pox matter being obtained, throu the politenefs of Dr, Weexs, the proprietor of the November, twelve of the children before named, pogeihes with Geerge Bartl-tt, fon of Dr. Bartlett, of C fince, were inoculate! at the Hofpital erected on Noddle’s Ifand, with the Small-pox, from the mat- time two children of Mr, Chriflopher Clark, of Hinch- man’s Lane, viz. Thomas and Fobn, who had never inoculated with the latter; and in the proper time the arms (of the two Clarks) became inflamed— tending the Small-pox, appeared—and finally pultules to the amount, of about 500 on one, and been invariably the cafe in all inftances of the fmall- pox within our knowledge. From thefe two chil- ter was taken, and the thirteen children before named, who were totally unaffected with the firft on the 21ft day of November ; and the other feven children, who had the Cow-pox as firft mentioned, Clarks; and the whole remained together inthefame houfe, in the fame room, and often in the fame beds, the Small-pox, either by uncommon forenefs of the arm, head-ach, the leaft degree of fever or daily vifited the Hofpital ourfelves, and made the moft critical obfervations and inquiries, which are tended the experiments (hereto annexed) and there- fore are confident in affirming, That the Cow-pox the Small-pox upon the human fyftem. ——__as2oewse- WITH a view of afcertaining the efficacy of the Cow-pox in preventing the Small-pox, and of dit- faéts as might be eftablithed by a courfe of experi- ments inftituted for the purpofe, and-thereby re- public mind on the fubje&, the Board of Health of the town of Bo/fon, in the courfe of the laft Sum- of Phyficians to cooperate with them on this im- portant defign ; and with a liberality becoming Ifland, for carrying it into execution.—A ccording- ly, on the 16th of Auguft laft, nineteen boys, whofe pox at the office, and in prefence of the above- mentioned Board, with freth, tranfparent Cow-pox ents then under this difeafe. ‘Thefe all received and paffed through the difeafe to the complete fa- Samuet Watts, Henry Wittidms, E. L. Truman, Groza’ Fouts, } Market-Square. ‘Tuomas Spear, Friends-Street. Office, in prefence of the Board, and of a number Waterhoufe, Welfh, F. C. Howard, and T. Danforth Board. Small-pox Hofpital at Fal/mouth—on the oth of harlefiown, who had the Cow-pox two years ter obtained from Dr. Wveks—and at the fame had either the Cow-pox or Small-pox, were alfo the fymptomatic fever, and ufual appearances at- 150 on the other, put forth and matterated, as has dren, thus affected with the Small-pox, frefh mat- inoculation with Small-pox, were again inoculated were alfo inoculated with frefh matter from the without producing the leaft appearance. of puftules—and this we certify to the public, having confirmed by the reportofthe phyficians who at- is a complete preventive againft all the effects of THE PHYSICIANS’ REPORT. fufing through this country the knowledge of fuch moving any prejudices, which might poffefs the mer, came to a determination to invite a number enlightened citizens, erected a Hofpital on Noddle’s- names are fubjoined, were inoculated for the Cow matter, taken from the arms of a number of pati- tisfaction of every perfon prefent, converfant with On the oth of November, twelve of the above children, together with one other, Georcr Barr- Lett by name, who had pafled through the Cow- pox two years before, were inoculated for the Small-Pox on Noddle’s-Iland, with matter taken from a Small-pox patient in the moft infed- ious ftage of that difeafe. The arms of thefe lads became inflamed at the incifions, in proportion to the various irritability of their habits, but not to a degree greater than what any other foreign, viru- lent matter would have produced. The Small- pox matter excited no general indifpofition whate- ver, through the whole progre(s of the experiments, though the children took no medicines, but were in- dulged in their ufual modes of living and exercife ; and were all lodged promifcuoufly inoneroom. At the fame time and place, in order to prove the attivity of the Small-pox matter, which had been ufed, two lads, who had never had either the. Smal]l-pox or Cow-pox, were inoculated from the At the ufual time, the arms of thefe two patients exhibited the true appearance of the Small pox. A fevere eruptive fever enfued, and produced\a plenteous crop of Small-pox puftules, amounting’ by eftimation, to more than five hun- dred in one, and two hundred in the other. When thefe puftules were at the highe!t ftate of infeétion, the thirteen children before mentioned, were inoculated a fecond time, with recent matter, taken from the puftules, which faid matter was like- wife inferted into the arms of the feven other chil- dren, who were abfent at the firft inoculation. —— They were all expofed, moft of them for twenty days, to infedtion, by being in the fame room with the two boys, who had the Small-pox, fo that, if fufceptible of this difeafe, they muft inevitably have received it,if not by inoculation, in the natural way. Each of the children was examined by the Sub- {cribers, who were individually convinced from the infpection of their arms, their perfect ftate of health, and excmption from every kind of eruption on their bodies, that the Cow-pox prevented their ta- king the Small-pox, and they do therefore confider the refult of the experiment as fatisfafory evidence, that the Cow-pox is a complete fecurity againf? the Small-pox. JAMES LLOYD. SAMUEL DANFORTH. ISAAC RAND. JOHN JEFFRIES, JOHN WARREN. THOMAS WELSH. BENJAMIN WATERHOUSE. JOSIAH BARTLETT. JOHN FLEET, jun. JOHN C. HOWARD. ‘THOMAS DANFORTH. SS OO Charleflown, December 15, 1802. This may certify, that my fon, Georce Bart- LETT, at the age of eight years, was inoculated for the Cow-pox, on the 11th day of November, 1800; that the appearance of his arm, and the fymptoms, fo fully correfponded withthe plates and publicati- ons I had then feen, as to convince me, and others of my medical friends, that he had the difea/e. JOSIAH BARTLETT, Fellow of the Maff: Med. Society. To the Prefident and Members of the Board of Health, Boston. Bofton, Dec. 8th, 1802. We, Susanna Truman and Lucy Learnep, nurfes attending on the experiments corroborating the efficacy of the Cow-pox—do certify that there wasnot the leaft ficknefs or appearance of Smail-pox among any of the children who were fubjects of the fame, during their ftay atNoddle’s-I/land, excepting the two boys, Tuomas and Joun Cuarxe, who had never had the Cow-pox, and were inoculated for the Small-pox, with a view to render the experi- Ment more complete. SUSANNA TRUMAN. LUCY LEARNED. Health-Ofice, Bostow, Dee. 16, 1802. Publifbed by order of the Board of Health. ISAIAH DOANE, Prefident. R. Garver, Seerctary.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b32181577_0002.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
