The Inquiry is a quarto of less than seventy pages in large type, set in broad margins in the grand style of the period, and illustrated with four coloured plates. There are eight pages of Introductory Matter, followed by thirty-four pages of Cases, concluding with twenty-six pages of General Observations.
It is to the Cases as the ground of the argument, that I would first direct attention. They are twenty-three, and may be thus assorted—
13 of Cowpox communicated by accident.
4 of Horsegrease communicated by accident and inoculated by design.
6 of Cowpox inoculated by design or transferred from arm-to-arm.
It may be tedious, but I should like to go with the reader over these Cases, for they are highly instructive. Let us take the first twelve of Cowpox communicated by accident.
I.—Joseph Merret, Gardener.
In 1770 attended to Horses, milked Cows, and caught Cowpox. Afterwards his family had Smallpox, but he escaped. In 1795 Jenner repeatedly inoculated him with Smallpox without effect.
II.—Sarah Portlock, Farm Servant.
In 1771 had Cowpox. In 1792 nursed her child in Smallpox “conceiving herself secure,” and was at the same time inoculated with Smallpox in both arms without effect.