In a former publication, I gave an account of the occasion and success of a general Inoculation at this place; from that time the town was released from any apprehensions of the disease, until the year 1770, when it appeared again, and two or three having died, a few persons were inoculated, and excited an alarm. On this occasion, the poor in my neighbourhood flocked in numbers, beseeching me to extend to them the same charitable assistance, they had formerly experienced; having then my two sons with me to assist, I complied without hesitation.
Nothing shews the increase and state of population so clearly, as an experiment of this kind; we had then upwards of two hundred and fifty patients, some of whom were new inhabitants, but the rest consisted for the most part of very young children. Necessity has often produced useful discoveries; the Inoculation was begun on Midsummer-day, and though the weather proved very hot, I observed no inconvenience from it; they had the free use of air, and seemed as much benefited by it as at any other season of the year; and every one recovered.
In the year 1774 the disease appeared a third time; the same request was renewed, and with the same assistance afforded, the whole town was inoculated once more, and now the number amounted only to about one hundred and twenty; from that time we have heard nothing of Small Pox, and I verily believe, that within these ten years not six persons have died in Hertford of this disease; whereas before the practice was so generally adopted, the Small Pox has frequently been epidemic and destroyed a great number of the inhabitants, besides injuring the market and trade of the town for a considerable time.
The inferences one may fairly draw from these premises are, that in small towns or villages, if some are inoculated and others excluded, unless more precautions are used than may reasonably be apprehended, the consequence will be, that the disease will spread through the vicinage, and be fatal to many.
On the contrary, if by general consent a public Inoculation is agreed on, and the poor are supplied with necessaries, the happiest consequences may be reasonably expected; and further, the good effect of repeated general Inoculations in the town of Hertford demonstrate, that large towns may with great advantage avail themselves of the same means, and, by occasionally repeating the practice, be secured from the ravages of this justly dreaded disease.
On general and partial Inoculations in London,
or other large and populous places.
It should be remarked, that what has hitherto been said relates to the conduct of this practice in villages and small towns, who are capable of uniting in a general plan for their common benefit. What I next propose to consider is, how far a practicable method can be adopted for general Inoculation in London, or in other large and populous places, where it is impossible to obtain the consent of all the inhabitants to be inoculated at one and the same time.
To be the more clearly understood, I desire the distinction in the former part of general and partial Inoculations may be remembered; and that by the first I mean, where the whole number of inhabitants of any town or place are inoculated at the same time, with the exception only of such as are not in a proper state of health, and those who may not chuse to submit to that mode of receiving the disease. By the second, where a part only of the inhabitants are inoculated, and the remainder left to take their chance of catching the disease from their inoculated neighbours.
The possibility of performing a general Inoculation on all the inhabitants of this city and suburbs at one time, will scarce bear a moment’s consideration, so many and so insuperable are the difficulties which would occur in a free country. I shall therefore decline entering upon the subject; and quitting all thoughts of a general practice, shall consider how far the inoculation of such poor persons as may make application for this purpose, can be complied with in London, consistent with the safety of themselves and others.