ENPages
(seq. 31)
in our colleges teaches two or three branches, and the Presidents, principals, or Rectors do the duty of what is divided among half a dozen persons in Europe). As to my business as a practitioner, it has, I confess been sacraficed to the love of these more pleasing pursuits; and many and many a prudential lecture have I had for so doing. The very things I have often heard said of and to poor Curtis, have been applied to me, and often to as little effect in turning the current of "the ruling passion." Had he stuck to his business, he might have died and left 10,000 pounds, and been soon forgotten; whereas he lived richly, and left behind him an everlasting monument of his genius, judgement and patriotism.
Besides the practice of physic in this country, especially in a village, for C. is no more, is a perfect slavery compared with the dignified exercise of the profession with you &c. on {par} in this subject
(seq. 33)
To Major Daniel Jackson April 2d. 1803.
Dear Sir
I have reason to thank you, as well as {Captain} Stoddard for so often reminding me to transmit my demand in a regular form for the vaccine per instructions &c &c for the purpose of inoculating the battalion under your command agreeably to the directions received from {General} Wilkinson.
It is proper now to inform you why I decline receiving any fee for this service.--
The discovery of the cowpox was written to me by Dr. Lettsom before it had appeared in any printed book. As soon as I {recieved} further information from Dr. Jenner and satisfied my own mind as to its efficacy, I began to publish in the newspapers the particulars of this extraordinary discovery in order to prepare the public mind for the reception of the practice; which practice I commend
(seq. 34)
commenced 3 years ago with my own family( and then sent them into f. p. hospital ) Since that period I have regularly published every important information as I received it from England, and kept not back any useful discovery made in my own practice. This I continued unremittingly untill the conviction all doubts were removed by the public expt. of the Board of Health made in consequence of my memorial to them. Direcly after this I published a volume containing all I know both of the theory & practice of vaccination. During this anxious & arduous business I was animated with more powerful motives than private emolument. But feeling that this business was attended with expence, and foreseeing that the sacrifice of my private practice to it, I conceived it necessary to devise some plan to bear me out in the expences attendant on the introduction of this new inoculation into the U.S. A plan was adopted, but not without advice of some of the most leading medical & clerical characters in this & several other states. It was in substance this – to exact a certain tax from such practitioners, who ignorant of the business, applied for matter & instructions for their own emolument exclusively.
(seq. 35)
This scheme was:: pursued not in a very particul rigid manner. it merely sufficed to keep the business from stagnation; for you will perceive that I myself was (by a general agreement) in the place of a Vaccine Institution. Notwithstanding I had the example of the Royal vaccine Instuitution in London, yet I would gladly have avoided, if possible, this trifling tax, but not being a man of property, it was impossible. While therefore I sometimes imposed a small assessment on those who avowedly aimed to make money by it, I unremittingly (& gratuitously) diffused the matter & instructions to every part of the Union, to Medical Societies, Vaccine Institutions & influencial characters, as may be seen in the volume I have just published.
Supplying the means for inoculating the Battalion under your command I consider in no other light than a public benefit. When considered in that view I have invariably refused all pecuniary compensation. You may, if you please explain this to {General} Wilkinson & the Secretary of War, and assure them of my readiness to assist in