American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-01-16
no THE PUBLIC.

The undersigned members Of the Medical Association
of Wilmington and its vicinity considering the many vague
and alarming srunors aoat respecting the present eru-
denic Small Pox and also some pieces ncautiously in
serted in the newspapers tending to courage the prac
ce of vaccination, deem expedent to address the pub
lie subject closely connected with the health and
lives Of their fellow citizens.
Through correspondence by letters with number of
the most eminent practitioners OF medicine IN Philadelphia,
enabled to state the following facts In relation to
this subject
1.-The epidemic small pox which has prevailed for
weeks past in the City, very malignant, and is unusual
ly fatal to the unprotected.
"a considerable number of persons, both of the
lated and vaccnaed have also been attacked by emp
tive form of fever similar chicken pox, and called
by some of the physicians but more generally known
by the of KarioOsd disease in most cases mild
and free from danger.
3Both the inocuated and vaccnated equally subject
to the variooid disease and is stated by of our
correspondents that the former have it more severely
than the latter.
4-None of the physicians with whom have correspon-
ded, have known Of single death from this disease
amongst those who have been vaccidted; nor does it
appear from their reports that the small pox has occur
red after genuine vaccination, in single instance ;So
deaths however mentioned Of small poo after small por
l5-Vaccnaon continues be universally practiscd by
the physicians in the city, and to be considered the best
preventive Of small pox that has been discovered
Such being the facts that have been communicated u.s.
on this highly interesting subject from the authentic
sources, We therefore, unhesltangly declare that
confidence IN rdcctndLon, as preventive or the natural
small poK remains ndsmnshed. The mild character of
the vaccine has induced many perform vaccination who
were ignorant of the important distinction between the
genuine and the spurious disease by this errors
have been committed and many persons have been left
wholly unprotected, by having undergone spurious aacc
nation Ii is from these unhappy mistakes that many
reports get abb Dad, affecting the reputation Of vaccine
oculaon. We therefore recommend to all those who
have been vaccnated by persons aaanted with the sub
ec and also to all other doubtful! cases, 70 undergo this
operation second time.
We are aware that there few persons who, either
from of information, or by yielding TO LIND preu
dice reject vaccination and also, that there are some
with whom sordid interest is paramount to all other
sderaons who would by incubation, spread the small
pox and with it, DEATH and terror, through the COMMUNE
IT, We have only to add, that if any should attempt
execute such scheme, have full confidence that le
gal will be resorted to by injured and ndg
nan public their cruel purpose and punish their
temery. JOHN RRlNCkLEI
| JAMES TfLTON,
| GIDEON JACQUES,
| WILLIAM gibbons,
| ALLEN MsLANE, ir.
| WILLIAM w. BAKER,
j WILLIAM d. BRlNCKLE.
i Wilmington, Jan. -, 1924,