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| Note: | Images of the original pages are available through the Posner Memorial Collection, Carnegie Mellon University Libraries. See http://posner.library.cmu.edu/Posner/books/book.cgi?call=614.4_J54I_1798 |
AN
INQUIRY
INTO
THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS
OF
THE VARIOLÆ VACCINÆ.
AN
INQUIRY
INTO
THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS
OF
THE VARIOLÆ VACCINÆ,
A DISEASE
DISCOVERED IN SOME OF THE WESTERN COUNTIES OF ENGLAND,
PARTICULARLY
GLOUCESTERSHIRE,
AND KNOWN BY THE NAME OF
THE COW POX.
BY EDWARD JENNER, M.D. F.R.S. &c.
—QUID NOBIS CERTIUS IPSIS
SENSIBUS ESSE POTEST, QUO VERA AC FALSA NOTEMUS.
LUCRETIUS.
London:
PRINTED, FOR THE AUTHOR,
BY SAMPSON LOW, N°. 7, BERWICK STREET, SOHO:
AND SOLD BY LAW, AVE-MARIA LANE; AND MURRAY AND HIGHLEY, FLEET STREET.
TO
C. H. PARRY, M.D.
AT BATH.
My dear friend,
In the present age of scientificinvestigation, it is remarkable that a disease of sopeculiar a nature as the Cow Pox, which has appearedin this and some of the neighbouringcounties for such a series of years, should so longhave escaped particular attention. Finding theprevailing notions on the subject, both among menof our profession and others, extremely vague andindeterminate, and conceiving that facts might appear[Pg iv]at once both curious and useful, I have institutedas strict an inquiry into the causes and effectsof this singular malady as local circumstances wouldadmit.
The following pages are the result, which, frommotives of the most affectionate regard, are dedicatedto you, by
Your sincere Friend,
EDWARD JENNER.
Berkeley, Gloucestershire,
June 21st, 1798.
[Pg 1]
ANINQUIRY,&c. &c.
The deviation of Man from the state in whichhe was originally placed by Nature seems to haveproved to him a prolific source of Diseases. Fromthe love of splendour, from the indulgences ofluxury, and from his fondness for amusement, hehas familiarised himself with a great number ofanimals, which may not originally have been intendedfor his associates. [Pg 2]
The Wolf, disarmed of ferocity, is now pillowedin the lady's lap[1]. The Cat, the little Tyger of ourisland