THE GROSVENOR CASE.
It may be asked, Why, if Vaccination was proved useless and
injurious, was it not entirely discontinued? but the question
implies a logical consistency which is rarely exemplified in
human experience. Vaccination was discontinued, but it was not
entirely discontinued: it was chiefly continued among the upper
and middle classes where fees were to be had for its performance.
It was admitted that the rite might not prevent smallpox, but it
would make it milder. The last thing a medicine man admits is,
that he is helpless and can do nothing. Even in presence of that
for which there is no remedy, it tends to his importance, and the
satisfaction of the patient, and those around the patient, to make
believe to do something. Now for smallpox, there was no preventive.
Its causes were unknown. It broke out, and it disappeared, none
knew how. Jenner’s household was devastated with fever, but he
never asked, why? As observed disease was accepted like so much
bad weather. Whether fevers were avoidable, or whether they
were consequences of ill living, were questions as yet outside
cognizance. The predominant thought about smallpox was, that it
might be dodged, be it from God or devil. Inoculation with smallpox
was a dodge with disagreeable accompaniments: inoculation with
cowpox was a dodge on easier terms: by a trick, that left every
evil circumstance unaffected, smallpox was to be got rid of.
In the nature of things, the dodge was ineffective--mercifully
ineffective; for who that is wise would care to have the
consequences of evil abated save by the putting away of evil? The
dodge proved illusory in the presence of those who recommended it,
but whilst a manifest failure as to the main intention, they had
the craft to shift its efficacy to rendering the disease milder--a
claim as to which no test was immediately available. Moreover,
vaccination had the merit of action, which the quack, whether lay
or professional, insists on at all hazards. To confess ignorance
and inability is self-denial for which the quack’s mind is unequal,
as whoever is ailing and has friends may perceive. All come bearing
advice and prescriptions for the control of nature, when, with
simple quiescence and a right disposition of circumstances, nature
is instant to effect recovery.
The failures of vaccination to prevent smallpox were chiefly
visible among the poor, smallpox being predominantly an affliction
of poverty; but in 1811 a case occurred in aristocratic life which
produced more talk and dismay than scores of similar cases among
trades-folk and artizans. Robert Grosvenor, son of Earl Grosvenor,
vaccinated by Jenner in 1801 when a puny babe of a month old, fell
ill on 26th May, 1811; in a few days smallpox developed, became
confluent, and the lad narrowly escaped with life. There was no
mistake about the vaccination; the mark on the boy’s arm indicated
“the perfect disease”; he was attended by Sir Henry Halford and Sir
Walter Farquhar, and was visited by Jenner, who happened to be in
town; and, in short, the evidence of the impotence of vaccination
to avert smallpox was complete and indisputable. The commotion
was intense, and in a letter from Jenner to Baron we see how it
affected his mind. He wrote--
COCKSPUR STREET, CHARING CROSS,
_11th June, 1811_.
MY DEAR FRIEND,--It will probably be my lot to be detained in
this horrible place some days longer. It has unfortunately
happened, that a failure in vaccination has appeared in the
family of a nobleman here; and, more unfortunately still, in a
child vaccinated by me. The noise and confusion this case has
created are not to be described. The vaccine lancet is sheathed;
and the long concealed variolous blade ordered to come forth.
Charming! This will soon cure the mania. The Town is a fool--an
idiot; and will continue in this red-hot--hissing-hot state
about this affair, till something else starts up to draw aside
its attention. I am determined to lock up my brains, and think
no more _pro bono publico_; and I advise you, my friend, to do
the same; for we are sure to get nothing but abuse for it. It is
my intention to collect all the cases I can of Smallpox after
supposed security from that disease. In this undertaking I hope
to derive much assistance from you. The best plan will be to
push out some of them as soon as possible. This would not be
necessary on account of the present case, but it will prove the
best shield to protect us from the past, and from those which are
to come.--Ever yours, EDWARD JENNER.[182]
The defence, therefore, was, that as an attack of smallpox did
not always avert a second attack, it was not reasonable to expect
that vaccination should be more effective; and to make good this
position, a diligent search was instituted for cases of repeated
smallpox. Many were found, though they were generally regarded
as rarities, whilst their reality was frequently disputed; but
whatever their number or genuineness, they were insignificant
in comparison with the instances of smallpox subsequent to
vaccination. Moreover, the Jennerites were taunted with their
late discovery of smallpox after smallpox. Why had they not
stated from the outset that smallpox might follow vaccination as
smallpox followed smallpox? Why, on the contrary, had they asserted
vaccination to be an absolute and life-long defence against
smallpox? Why had they abused as fools or denounced as liars all
the early reporters of smallpox after vaccination? And why did it
require evidence, that could not possibly be wriggled out of, to
bring them to an acknowledgment of the truth?
But even in presence of such evidence, Jenner persisted in his
asseverations as if he had lost the very sense of truth. Writing
to Miss Calcraft on 19th June, 1811, he actually claimed that he
had foreseen and predicted such disasters as had occurred in the
Grosvenor family! Here are his words--
Take a comprehensive view of Vaccination, and then ask yourself
what is this case? You will find it a speck, a mere microscopic
speck on the page which contains the history of the vaccine
discovery. In the very first thing I wrote upon the subject,
and many times since, I have said the occurrence of such an
event should excite no surprise; because the Cowpox must possess
preternatural powers if it would give uniform security to the
constitution, when it is well known that Smallpox cannot; for
we have more than one thousand cases to prove the contrary, and
fortunately seventeen of them in the families of the nobility.
Obviously had such been his uniform testimony, the Grosvenor
incident would have excited neither surprise nor alarm; and mark
this additional hardihood--
Indeed, I have often said it was wonderful that I should
have gone on for such a series of years vaccinating so many
thousands, many under very unfavourable circumstances, without
meeting with any interruption to my success before. And now this
single solitary instance has occurred, all my past labours are
forgotten, and I am held up by many, perhaps the majority of the
higher classes, as an object of derision and contempt.... What if
ten, fifty, or a hundred such events should occur? they will be
balanced a hundred times over by those of a similar kind after
Smallpox.
Whilst thus he maintained that it was far more extraordinary that
young Grosvenor had smallpox after vaccination than that others
should have smallpox after smallpox, he went on to assert that
vaccination had saved the lad’s life!
The child would have died (that is universally allowed) but for
the previous Vaccination. There was but little secondary fever;
the pustules were sooner in going off than in ordinary cases;
and, indeed, the whole progress of the disease was different. It
was modified and mitigated, and the boy was saved.[183]
Such was the _mot d’ ordre_. If Grosvenor had not been vaccinated,
he would have perished! The National Vaccine Board reported on the
case to the same effect, and the faithful suffered themselves to be
re-assured.
In connection with 1811 and London smallpox, there is a letter to
Dr. Lettsom which throws still farther light on Jenner’s temper and
philosophy. He wrote--
CHELTENHAM, _22nd November, 1811_.
I have considered London as the centre of opposition to the
vaccine practice; but even there, in spite of the base and
murderous designs of a few bad minded individuals, the Smallpox
has wonderfully decreased; and in the provinces its mortality
has lessened in a still greater proportion. For the great and
grand effects of Vaccination the eye must quit this little
spot, and survey it among other European countries, and still
more particularly among the vast empires of Asia and America.
In Mexico and Peru the disease is nearly extinct. The documents
which pour in upon me from these distant regions fill me with
inexpressible delight. You shall have copies when I can get them
transcribed.
The chief impediments to the general adoption of Vaccination
in England are, I am confident, our newspapers and some of our
magazines. Whenever a case of what is called failure starts up,
in it goes to a newspaper, with all the exaggeration with which
envy and malice can garnish it.[184]
Was there ever a more delicious bit of self-revelation! The
wicked newspapers! The base, murderous and bad minded enemies
of vaccination! The smallpox of London reduced by vicarious
vaccination in spite of its ingratitude! The consolation derived
from the survey of the countries of Europe and the vast empires of
Asia and America with inexpressible delight from Mexico and Peru!
Not Mrs. Jellyby herself lost in an atmosphere of Borrioboola-Gah
is more piquant.
FOOTNOTES:
[182] Baron’s _Life of Jenner_, vol. ii. p. 161.
[183] Baron’s _Life of Jenner_, vol. ii. p. 158.
[184] Pettigrew’s _Memoirs of J. C. Lettsom, M.D._ London, 1817.
Vol. iii. p. 405.