Note 95 — PART II. OF DISEASES. (continued 2)

“Many and great,” says this humane author, “are the dangers attending the natural infection, from all which the inoculation is quite secure. The natural infection may invade weaker distempered bodies, by no means disposed for its kindly reception. It may attack them at a season of the year either violently hot or intensely cold. It may be communicated from a sort of small-pox impregnated with the utmost virulence. It may lay hold upon people unexpectedly, when a dangerous sort is imprudently imported into a maritime place. It may surprise us soon after excesses committed in luxury, intemperance, or lewdness. It may likewise seize on the innocent after indispensably watchings, hard labour, or necessary journies. And is it a trivial advantage, that all these unhappy circumstances can be prevented by inoculation? By inoculation numbers are saved from deformity as well as from death. In the natural small-pox, how often are the finest features, and the most beautiful complexions, miserably disfigured? Whereas inoculation rarely leaves any ugly marks of scars, even where the number of pustules on the face has been very considerable, and the symptoms by no means favourable. And many other grievous complaints, that are frequently subsequent to the natural sort, seldom follow the artificial. Does not inoculation also prevent those inexpressible terrors that perpetually harass persons who never had this disease, insomuch that when the small-pox is epidemical, entire villages are depopulated, markets ruined, and the face of distress spread over the whole country? From this terror it arises, that justice is frequently postponed, or discouraged, at sessions or assizes where the small-pox rages. Witnesses and juries dare not appear; and by reason of the necessary absence of some gentlemen, our honourable and useful judges are not attended with that reverence and splendour due to their office and merit. Does not inoculation, in like manner, prevent our brave sailors from being seized with this distemper on shipboard, where they must quickly spread the infection among such of the crew who never had it before, and where they have scarce any chance to escape, being half stifled with the closeness of their cabins, and but very indifferently nursed? Lastly, with regard to the soldiery, the miseries attending these poor creatures, when attacked by the small-pox on a march, are inconceivable, without attendance, without lodgings, without any accommodation; so that one of three commonly perishes.”