APPLICATION TO PARLIAMENT FOR JENNER’S RELIEF, 1806.
Baron relates an instance of Jenner’s personal shyness and the
mental torture he endured in prospect of a festival of the Royal
Jennerian Society in which he was expected to take part. Speaking
to Baron he said--
I can compare my feelings to those of no one but Cowper, the
poet, when his intellect at last gave way to his fears about the
execution of his office in the House of Lords. It was reading
Cowper’s Life, I believe, that saved my own senses by putting me
fully in view of my danger. For many weeks before the meeting
I began to be agitated, and, as it approached, I was actually
deprived both of appetite and sleep; and when the day came, I was
obliged to deaden my sensibility and gain courage by brandy and
opium. The meeting was at length interrupted by a dissolution of
Parliament, which sent the leading people to the country; and
what was at first merely postponed was ultimately abandoned to my
no small delight and satisfaction.[136]
Something of this timidity was no doubt due to his consciousness of
playing a deceitful part, and to the appropriation of honour and
reward to which he had no just claim. Like many shy men, Jenner
could be insolent with pen and ink--it was face to face courage
to which he was unequal; and this timidity, with other reasons,
accounted for his failure as a London physician--as “the Cowpox
Doctor,” as he was commonly described. Those whose encouragement
had helped to lead him to disaster, those who were pleased to
believe that he had taught mankind how to escape from smallpox,
and several of his professional brethren, were all concerned to
help him out of his difficulties, and, if possible, at the public
expense. The Duchess of Devonshire wrote to Mr. Angerstein--
I had not forgot your kind interest about Jenner. I spoke to the
Duke, the Prince, and Morpeth, and they will all do what you
think best; but Morpeth has undertaken to make inquiries whether
it is not possible to bring his case again before Parliament. He
thinks if that could be done, it would be more satisfactory than
any subscription. I desired him to find out how Pitt was _really_
inclined in the matter, and I only waited the result of these
inquiries to write to you.
At the same time Jenner himself was not inactive, and managed to
advance his own interest effectually. He came to London, 10th
May, 1805, and at once saw Lord Egremont, and enlarged upon the
losses he had incurred in the public service; the result being a
determination to appeal afresh to the liberality of the House of
Commons. Moreover he succeeded in winning over the Chancellor of
the Exchequer in the manner he thus describes--
During my residence in town in the summer of 1805, Lady Crewe
happened in conversation to tell me how much Lord Henry Petty
wished for a conference with me on the vaccine subject; and
that she would like to bring us together. We met at her villa
at Hampstead, and went so fully into the matter that his
Lordship, convinced of the injury I had sustained, expressed his
determination to bring something forward in the ensuing session.
Before the session arrived Mr. Pitt died, and Lord Henry Petty
became Chancellor of the Exchequer. In the early part of 1806,
I again saw his Lordship, and found that his ardour in my cause
had suffered no abatement. This was soon after proved by his
Lordship’s motion in the House.[137]
Lord Henry brought Jenner’s case before the Commons on the 2nd of
July, and recited the fabulous matter communicated to him with
the force of personal conviction. Vaccination was a preventive of
smallpox, that loathsome disease which spreads death throughout
the world. It was in 1777 that Jenner obtained some obscure
knowledge of the peculiar virtue of Vaccine; and from that period
he meditated profoundly on the subject, accumulated information,
and instituted cautious and decisive experiments. At length he
perfected his discovery, and published it for the benefit of
mankind. Lord Henry then proceeded to relate the triumphs of
Vaccination, not only throughout Europe, but China and India!
Wherever the practice was introduced, there smallpox diminished
and vanished. There was Vienna, for instance, where the average
mortality from smallpox was 835 annually. Vaccination was commenced
in 1799, and the mortality dropped in 1802 to 61, in 1803 to 27,
and in 1804 to 2. Thus in Vienna there was an annual salvation of
833 human beings. This undoubted fact had made a deep impression on
his mind [as well it might!] But, alas! what was doing so much good
abroad was neglected and distrusted at home. In the City of London
the deaths from smallpox had been on an average 1811 annually, and
this mortality had been gradually reduced by Vaccination to 629.
Through the diffusion of the disease by variolous inoculation, the
deaths last year (1805) had been raised from 629 to 1685. This
dreadful destruction of life, especially shocking when a certain
preventive existed, demanded their most serious attention, and in
the situation he felt bound to propose a plan to bring forward a
mass of evidence, to elicit the truth, and enlighten the public. He
would therefore move--
That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying
that he will be graciously pleased to direct His Royal College
of Physicians to inquire into the state of Vaccine Inoculation
in the United Kingdom, and to report their opinion as to the
progress it has made, and the causes which have retarded its
general adoption.
Should this report from the Physicians corroborate the favourable
opinion of Vaccination entertained by foreign nations, it must
greatly tend to subdue those prejudices against the practice which
have been fomented here. And in that case, the House may consider
whether the ingenious Discoverer has been remunerated conformably
to the liberal spirit and character of this country.
Dr. MATHEWS seconded the motion, and contrasted the safety of the
vaccine with the dangers of variolous inoculation. He had no doubt
the country would hasten to testify still further its gratitude to
the learned physician to whom they owed this inestimable benefit.
Mr. WILBERFORCE did not approve of the reference to the College of
Physicians. He would have preferred an investigation by a committee
of the House, and another committee of the House of Lords. The
opinions of such unbiased persons would be more congenial to
the feelings of the people, and far more satisfactory than any
medical report from the College of Physicians. The latter might be
suspected of being influenced by professional motives, whereas a
report from the Lords and Commons would be universally received as
proceeding from a pure desire to promote the general good. It did
not surprise him that Vaccination had made less progress at home
than abroad. The resistance was due to that curious principle in
the human mind which accepts what comes from afar with admiration
whilst what is familiar is neglected and despised. The remedy would
be found in diffusing information as to the complete success of
Vaccination in foreign countries. They would thus disperse those
absurd prejudices which are engendered and fostered by certain
selfish and interested individuals.
Mr. WINDHAM did not concur in the advice of Mr. Wilberforce to
refer the matter to a parliamentary committee. It was a question
for medical men. To a committee of the House the adage might be
applied, _Ne sutor ultra crepidam_. Let them enforce with their
approval the report of the physicians, and then let them proceed
to remunerate that meritorious individual to whom society owed
the utmost gratitude. He could not help thinking he had not yet
received what was due for the expense and trouble the discovery had
cost him.
Mr. BANKS was of a sceptical turn. He wished the motion had been
made earlier in the session, for then he should have supported
the suggestion of Mr. Wilberforce. They wished to know whether
Vaccination really did afford reasonable security from smallpox.
It was not a question for medical men for which the House was
incompetent. They were as capable of determining the point, and
setting it clearly before the public, as the most learned body that
ever existed. He wished too, since the motion would be carried,
that the Royal College of Surgeons might be united with the
Physicians in the production of the report. As for Dr. Jenner, if
Vaccination were as efficacious as asserted, he might be left to
find his reward in its practice.
Lord HENRY PETTY in summing up the debate expressed his
satisfaction with the general approval extended to his motion.
He did not think the House competent to form a judgment on
Vaccination. They could not decide whether cowpox was genuine or
spurious, or whether the affection resulting from its inoculation
was regular or otherwise; nor could they determine whether
eruptions that might break out after Vaccination were induced by
the operation, or were due to other causes. Such delicate questions
could only be solved by medical men. As for the proposal to annex
the Royal College of Surgeons to that of the Physicians, it was
superfluous. The College of Physicians would not only consult
the Surgeons, but the Medical Colleges of Scotland and Ireland
likewise. If the report should prove favourable, it would then be
his duty to propose that remuneration be awarded to Dr. Jenner for
his inestimable discovery.
The motion was then put from the Chair and agreed to unanimously.
It is needless to remark that the report of the College of
Physicians was a mere formality toward a vote of credit for
Jenner’s relief. He lay heavy on many hands, and none were more
anxious to be relieved from the pressure than certain influential
members of the College whose report was solicited. The operation
was skilfully planned for the end designed, and Lord Henry Petty
allowed himself to be primed and applied with singular facility:
but public men have often to deliver as of themselves what is
communicated by others, and to stand responsible for absurdities of
which they are unconscious.
FOOTNOTES:
[136] Baron’s _Life of Jenner_, vol. ii. p. 162.
[137] Baron’s _Life of Jenner_, vol. ii. p. 55.