The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-09-16
BRITISH HOUSE OF COMMONS, July 2.
VACCINE INCUBATION.

Lord II. Petty rofe in order, purfuant TO no.
tice which he had formerly given. to call the
attention Of the Houfe to the fubjea of the
Vaccine incubation. Though this was no po-
ltical fubjed yet:it was one 70 important to
the health and to the very exifencc of multi
tudes of the human fpecies, that it was as we'll
worthy the attention of the Legislature, a, it
certainly promifed perhaps to eradicate that
horrid diforder called the frnall pox. He would
not enter at prefent into any minute detail on
this difcovery, as it had on a former occaiion
been brought before the Houfe by his prede-
eefTor. This interefing ifcovery had been the
refult Of the Iabors of one eminent phyhcian,
who had been for 80 years foley occupied in
bringing il to maturity. He began 70 early as
the year l777, and by a. flow gradual progrefs
brought it TO what it was now. In 1873. he
thought of extending it by incubation, and hop
ed by this meansto effect the total extin cton of
the fmall pox. In 1898, after its beneficial eff
feets had been in fome meafure afcertained,
it was iubmtted TO the public, and began to be
generally DILUTED. In that year it had been a.
dopted in America, not only among the white
Inhabitants, but alto among the Indians, with
all the fuccefs that its greatef admirers could
hope for. BY the exertions of his royal high
nefs the commander in chief, it had been diff.
fufed over the coat of the Mediterranean. It
had fpread alto in Ruffa and in Pruflia. But
what he wifhed particularly to call the attenti
on ofthc Houfe to, as it was the circumstance
that made the frongett imprciIion on his mind
was, the fuccefs which it had met with in the
Autrian dominione. He begged leave to mem
tion one fact. In the year preceding the intro
dutfion of the Vaccine fnoculatiou the deaths
at Vienna, by the fmal pox, had been 1885,
In 500, this difcovery having been previouny
introduced, the number was reduced to el
In 1903, to 81 I; and in 1904, to two perfons
70 that the annual faving, by means of this dit.
covery in that city, was SIS perfohs-Ye after
this it was melancholy to think, that when
the progrefs was e. rapid on the continent of
Europe, and even in China, the motion in this
country thould rather be retrograde. This had
been owing to fome Objection that had been
made to the practice but even thefe very OBJ
jcetions fnrnlfhed ftrong argument for the pro-
petition which he was about TO fubmit 10 the
Houfe. But thefe objections had certainly
prevailed in. retarding the progrefs of the diff
Sovery III thts county. In London, in 1902
the deaths by the fmll poy bad amounted 10
ISL In 1904, they have been reduced TO
622. But in cobfequenee of the preiudces A.
CAN'T the Vaccine inocGlStion, they had in the
lat year rfen to ,5s6 /; 70 that they were fatt
approaching to their original amount. Under
thefe ecircUmhances, be had been induced TO
brig the fubjest before the Legislature not
with view Of propofng any compulsory mea-
fure, TOR he was aware how improper it would
be to propole any neafure Of compulfion in
safe where the perfous moa nearly concerned
NUT be fuPpofed BE the moa competent
judges where health and happiness were con.
cerned, Yetit was the duty of the Legislature
TO endedvor to enlighte1 the minds of the peo-
pie, and ofgiVing TO IN. ufefu dfcovery, ali the
weight which their appreciation could confer |
upon u and he hoped the Houfe would frone. |
~ feel the Importance Of this duty--TIis ohiee |
was, that the ROYAL College Sf nh vGciano n, ,IJ
examine into the cafe, fate the condition of
The Vaccine Inoculation in this country, In |
qilre into the caufes that retarded its progreCs
and make report accordingly. He would |
propoie this with view to have the report be.
fore the Houfe carly the next FELTON,, when il |
would be referred TO a committee, in order
that the diicoyery might have that incteafed
action; which, If the report mould be favora-
Ole, mutt follow fuch an enquiry. And, If the |
Fe!uit fhouid be the confederation of opinion, az
TO tsc great benefits which arofe from this dic |