The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-04-04

an Original Letter Of Dr.. Jenner S.
The Virginia Clinical Record, an exs
cellent medical monthly published at
Richmond, gives the following extract
from letter (neveF before pubIished)
written, in 1905, By DR.. Edward Jsnner
to Mr. John Bolton, late CT Savannah,
Ga, father of the late DR.. James Bolton,
of Richmond, Va
CHELTIzsHAAl, Sep. 8, 1905.
Ny Dear Sir You were good
enough to express a wish, during cur
conversation on the subject, to be &C
quainted with my history as far as relstes
70 the vaccine discovery. ! will there.
fore give you the following outline Pray
make what discretional use of it you
please, but don't publish it, at least don't
priat it, as | think il would dishonor my
country.
Near thirty years ago my researches
into the vaccine disease commenced. Ais
though much accustomed from nv earliest
years to the investigation of subjects 10
natural history, found this so involved
in Obscurity, so intricate and complex,
that did not develop it tn nay complete
satisfaction till the year 1913. when, in g
publication entitled IAN Enquiry into
the Causes and Effects of the Variola
Vaccine or Cowpox" / Immediately laid
the whole before the world. My situR-
ton at this time was that of q physician
in full and lucrative practice in my native
cnunty, GlosteFshire. But being neces-
STATED to quit my situation in the coun'
try and live In LandOn IN order to sstRb-
lish the new practice, my increased
expenses, and the subtraction of my
former professional income, reduced my
| possessions from q state Of plenty to that
state which gave me some alarm. In
this situation / made an application to
| Parliament, and was heard.
10000 was the sum proposed by one
member as compensation, and 10000
| by smother. The lesser sum was voted,
| the Minister, Dir. Addington, alleging
| that he should certainly have consented
to a grant of the larger sum, but was
we'll convinced that my practice in town
would speedily and amply remunerate
| me. L made the trial, and, according to
my own expectations, failed. It could
not we'll be otherwise, as l had concealed
nothing, but on the contrary. took the
greatest pains during my residence in
| town te make every one as good a vaccine
incubator as myself Whereas, had
| Cooking forward to the amassing of
riches more than difusiAg the incaculable
advantages of the discovery kept it a
secret, my fortune might have been made
to any extent This opinion was given
in evidence before the Committee of the
House of Commons by some of the medi,
cal gentlemen of the metropolis.
l am now again a resident for the most
part in Glostershire, and frUm a combina-
ton of circumstances which ! need not
{ detail, and doomed to feel the pressure
of an expense of more than 600 per
annum, without scarcely any provision
being made for me The vote of Parlia.
ment having done little more than make
up the losses and expense incurred in the
prosecution of that inquiry which led to
the fortunate discovery and establishment
of Vaccine lnOculatiOn-a discovery
which trust may be allowed exulting
ly to say will add more to the stock Of
human happiness than any which haE
preceded it.
Believe me, dear sir, with every good
wish, your Obliged and very faithful
servant. EDWARD JENNER.