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inoculation of some condemned criminals； the Prince intending afterward to continue the practice in his own family； the experiment was entirely successful； and the individuals on whom it was made afterward received their liberty （Adams）。
According to Rohe； inoculation was introduced into this country in 1721 by Dr。 Zabdiel Boylston of Boston； who had his attention directed to the practice by Cotton Mather； the eminent divine。 During 1721 and 1722 286 persons were inoculated by Boylston and others in Massachusetts； and six died。 These fatal results rendered the practice unpopular； and at one time the inoculation hospital in Boston was closed by order of the Legislature。 Toward the end of the century an inoculating hospital was again opened in that city。
Early in the eighteenth century inoculation was extensively practiced by Dr。 Adam Thomson of Maryland； who was instrumental in spreading a knowledge of the practice throughout the Middle States。
Despite inoculation； as we have already seen； during the eighteenth century the mortality from small…pox increased。 The disadvantage of inoculation was that the person inoculated was affected with a mild form of small…pox； which however； was contagious； and led to a virulent form in uninoculated persons。 As universal inoculation was manifestly impracticable； any half…way measure was decidedly disadvantageous； and it was not until vaccination from cow…pox was instituted that the first decided check on the ravages of small…pox was made。
Vaccination was almost solely due to the persistent efforts of Dr。 Edward Jenner； a pupil of the celebrated John Hunter； born May 17； 1749。
In his comments on the life of Edward Jenner； Adams； in 〃The Healing Art；〃 has graphically described his first efforts to institute vaccination； as follows： 〃To the ravages of small…pox； and the possibility of finding some preventive Jenner had long given his attention。 It is likely enough that his thoughts were inclined in this direction by the remembrance of the sufferings inflicted upon himself by the process of inoculation。 Through six weeks that process lingered。 He was bled； purged； and put on a low diet； until 'this barbarism of human veterinary practice' had reduced him to a skeleton。 He was then exposed to the contagion of the small…pox。 Happily； he had but a mild attack； yet the disease itself and the inoculating operations； were probably the causes of the excessive sensitiveness which afflicted him through life。
〃When Jenner was acting as a surgeon's articled pupil at Sudbury； a young countrywoman applied to him for advice。 In her presence some chance allusion was made to the universal disease； on which she remarked： 'I shall never take it； for I have had the cow…pox。' The remark induced him to make inquiries； and he found that a pustular eruption； derived from infection； appeared on the hands of milkers； communicated from the teats of cows similarly disordered； this eruption was regarded as a safeguard against small…pox。 The subject occupied his mind so much that he frequently mentioned it to John Hunter and the great surgeon occasionally alluded to it in his lectures； but never seems to have adopted Jenner's idea that it might suggest some efficacious substitute for inoculation。 Jenner； however； continued his inquiries； and in 1780 he confided to his friend； Edward Gardner； his hope and prayer that it might be his work in life to extirpate smallpox by the mode of treatment now so familiar under the name of vaccination。
〃At the meetings of the Alveston and Radborough Medical Clubs； of both of which Jenner was a member； he so frequently enlarged upon his favorite theme； and so repeatedly insisted upon the value of cow…pox as a prophylactic； that he was denounced as a nuisance； and in a jest it was even proposed that if the orator further sinned； he should then and there be expelled。 Nowhere could the prophet find a disciple and enforce the lesson upon the ignorant； like most benefactors of mankind he had to do his work unaided。 Patiently and perseveringly he pushed forward his investigations。 The aim he had in view was too great for ridicule to daunt； or indifference to discourage him。 When he surveyed the mental and physical agony inflicted by the disease； and the thought occurred to him that he was on the point of finding a sure and certain remedy； his benevolent heart overflowed with unselfish gladness。 No feeling of personal ambition； no hope or desire of fame； sullied the purity of his noble philanthropy。 'While the vaccine discovery was progressive；' he writes； 'the joy at the prospect before me of being the instrument destined to take away from the world one of its greatest calamities； blended with the fond hope of enjoying independence； and domestic peace and happiness； were often so excessive； that； in pursuing my favorite subject among the meadows； I have sometimes found myself in a kind of reverie。 It is pleasant to recollect that those reflections always ended in devout acknowledgments to that Being from whom this and all other blessings flow。' At last an opportunity occurred of putting his theory to the test。 On the 14th day of May； 1796；the day marks an epoch in the Healing Art； and is not less worthy of being kept as a national thanksgiving than the day of Waterloothe cow…pox matter or pus was taken from the hand of one Sarah Holmes； who had been infected from her master's cows； and was inserted by two superficial incisions into the arms of James Phipps； a healthy boy of about eight years of age。 The cow…pox ran its ordinary course without any injurious effect； and the boy was afterward inoculated for the small…pox；happily in vain。 The protection was complete； and Jenner thenceforward pursued his experiments with redoubled ardor。 His first summary of them； after having been examined and approved by several friends； appeared under the title of 'An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae；' in June； 1798。 In this important work he announced the security against the small…pox afforded by the true cow…pox； and proceeded to trace the origin of that disease in the cow to a similar affection of the horse's heel。〃
This publication produced a great sensation in the medical world； and vaccination spread so rapidly that in the following summer Jenner had the indorsement of the majority of the leading surgeons of London。 Vaccination was soon introduced into France； where Napoleon gave another proof of his far…reaching sagacity by his immediate recognition of the importance of vaccination。 It was then spread all over the continent； and in 1800 Dr。 Benjamin Waterhouse of Boston introduced it into America； in 1801； with his sons…in…law； President Jefferson vaccinated in their own families and those of their friends nearly 200 persons。 Quinan has shown that vaccination was introduced into Maryland at least simultaneously with its introduction into Massachusetts。 De Curco introduced vaccination into Vienna； where its beneficial results were displayed on a striking scale； previously the average annual mortality had been about 835； the number now fell to 164 in 1801； 61 in 1802； and 27 in 1803。 After the introduction of vaccination in England the mortality was reduced from