Mr. Chandler. I do not.
Couns. for the Pris. You do not. Then they are secret medicines?
Mr. Chandler. They are.
Couns. for the Pris. Sir, we have done with you. Mr. President, and gentlemen of the jury, this is all the evidence we shall produce in support of our indictment. Though it were easy to corroborate every thing they have said by a hundred witnesses; yet as these are more than the law requires, as their evidence is so clear and circumstantial, and as they are gentlemen of undoubted character, we think it totally unnecessary to trouble you with the repetition of facts, of the truth of which you cannot possibly doubt.
That the Prisoner at the bar is guilty of preserving the lives of his Majesty’s liege subjects, we have proved, first, on the evidence of the Rev. Mr. Houlton, who asserts, that in the space of three years, he, the Prisoner, hath inoculated, or caused to be inoculated, no less than twenty thousand persons. Now, in the old way of inoculation, if we allow that there died one in two hundred, which I believe is about the mark, it will appear, that he hath actually preserved the lives of one hundred people; for in the twenty thousand inoculated by the Prisoner and his accomplices, not one hath died, whose death could be justly attributed to inoculation. This witness hath likewise informed you, that the Prisoner is actually possessed of a certain medicine, by the administration of which, and by the help of a magick circle drawn with a pen round the pustules, together with a prayer composed and repeated by this witness on the occasion, he can make them retire at the word of command, with the same dexterity, and in the same manner, as any other Hocus Pocus commands his little balls to pass through the table. That this is performed by means unknown to the faculty, is very evident, as not one of them all pretends to any thing like it.
Dr. Baker, a physician of considerable reputation, after giving you a clear account of the Prisoner’s extraordinary method of preparing, and manner of treating his patients thro’ the whole progress of the disease, sufficiently confirms the evidence of Mr. Houlton, in regard to the number of persons inoculated; with whom he also agrees in confirming that material part of our allegation, which accuses the Prisoner of performing these miracles by means of secret medicines, and unusual modes of practice.
Our last witness, Mr. Chandler, a very skilful surgeon, hath, in the course of his examination, corroborated Dr. Baker’s account of the Prisoner’s unprecedented mode of practice, at least in the most essential points; so that you cannot possibly entertain the least doubt as to facts. Gentlemen, it were very easy for me to expatiate on the fatal consequences of permitting such proceedings to go unpunished; but your own understanding and impartiality will, I make no doubt, prompt you to determine with propriety: I therefore forbear to say any thing more that might influence your judgement. The counsel for the Prisoner may now call their evidence whenever they think proper.
Couns. for the Prisoner. Mr. President, and gentlemen of the jury, the Prisoner at the bar stands indicted for preserving the lives of his Majesty’s liege subjects, by secret medicines and modes of practice, and by inoculating, or causing to be inoculated, divers persons, &c. With regard to his preserving the lives of the King’s subjects, it has been so insufficiently proved, that we shall not take up your time in disproving it; but as to his secret medicines, we shall shew you that the ingredients of which they are made are certainly known, and consequently that they are not secret medicines. We shall prove to you, by undeniable evidence, that the same medicines have been long recommended and administered for the same purposes, and with equal success. And we shall, last of all, produce a witness of unquestionable authority, who will convince you that the successful practice of inoculation does not depend on any peculiar medicine whatsoever, and consequently that the Prisoner is perfectly guiltless of the crimes of which he stands accused. Call Dr. Thomas Ruston.
Dr. Thomas Ruston sworn.
Pray, Dr. Ruston, have you any knowledge of the composition of certain medicines used by the Prisoner at the bar, in his practice of inoculation?