The Sun.
London, England, 1810-11-29 00:00:00

ha; satisfied himself of the preventive powers of Vac.
cinafion, can IT justified, either in practising or in
sanClioning the use of Small-Pal. Inoculation.—
To those, who, disbelieving in' the efficacy of Cow-
I'ix, have resisted the strongest testimony that ever
supported anymedical queit ion,we have nothing to say .
We are sorry-that; .on" a s.ubjed Of this kind, any
individuals'do not eel a# ove.earne.tly wish that all-
ould
.feel-,---. -Btit-Wtytn,nei,ter-irppea.ch their n te-
‘grity,--nor reprobate tVicinconsistency. those
however, wrio\i'itnCiw lig 'eliat They posses an abti-
dote to the ravages of Sall1;poi, and yet become
accessory to the propagation of that 'distemper, ano-
ther I.ingifat,e ought to be spoken. Oar 'Meeting
this day, acid. the- whole of. lain previous proceed-
ings,
_are - meant to indicate our abhorrence of such
idea, -because we consideF•tt as the destruelive
triumph of avarice or timidity,,over professional in-
tegrity. and, 'independence.' -This most criminal in-
decision,. has, in our opinion, prolonged the,exist-
ence of prejudices which might long ago have dis-
appeared.. Medical men, who know,. and have ad-
mitted, the advantages of Vaccination, are at least
bound to aet-in contermity•with that knowledge.----
A conscientious and explicit avowal of their senti-
ments, gap-ported and enforced by a manly and con-
sistent line of conduct, must inspire confidence into
the public mind, and factlitate the advancement of
a cause, for the success of which every 'good Man
must be interested.. We have attempted to do so;
and we most- ferveatly- hope, that our endeavours
mav not .be in vain., _ _

But while we thus express our opinions of the
duties which ought to bled -us, and the rest of our.
brethren, we roust at the same time remark, that
our best exertions i ill be fruitless, Unless the public
feeltng upon these points in .some measure corre-
sponds with our own. While medical men are held
responsible for their professional aEts, it is despotism
to attempt to awe them into a practice which their
reason and their conscience condeinns.. We feel
oursdves calkd upon to resist such , intlnence; and
we know, that, by so doing, our Claim to public con-
fidenceand,esteem should not tae diminished. It we
are required to follow the honest decisions of our
jtelgtnenls, in the ordinary transactions of our pro-
tessien, much more is it necessary torus to do so, in
a ease,which involves consequences like the present.
Did those who employ 'Small-Pox Inoculation
expose their _o.vn children only to the dangers of
that disease, we might justly bewail their fatal ig-
'norathe and obstinacy; but when; in addition to
this, they involve a whole district in ihe same perils,
tl\fk are guilty of cruelty and injustice, and are ane
swerable for evils, the extent of Willa] no human
being can calculate. We, dare nbt, with our pre-
sent knowlcdpV Cow-Pox, become
.aCtots in,
this-work of deatrii; and we feel the greatest con-
cern, that the --question,
.reTecting the dissemina-
tion of a plague, should lie, at the mercy' of any
individual. • •
Were the evidence in four of Cow-Pox infinite-
ly less petted than it is, the circumstances which
we have stated will always claim the most serious
consideration from every benevolent mind ; and,
when trey shall have been as accurately and exten-
sively examined as they should be, we confidently
pett a deterininanop in unison with our wishes.
Should our attempts to. accelerate this event prove
unsuccessful, we shall at least enjoy the satisfaction
of believing, de.. we have not negleaed the means
which have been placed within our reach, of confer-
enig a substantial benefit upon our race; and we
know that they are at this; instant greater than ever
were posws.,eci by the members of our profession at
dr: any fniene.r pe,iud.