London Vaccine Institution, for inoculating and supplying matter free of expense : Report and Prospectus.

  • London Vaccine Institution
Date:
1814
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: London Vaccine Institution, for inoculating and supplying matter free of expense : Report and Prospectus. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    53/92 page 47
    SEE, the sad mother o’er yon cradle bends, And many a plaintive sigh to Heav’n she sends, —’Tis Heav’n alone can consolation give; And, hark! she cries, u O let my darling live! Why do l feel the fervency of pray’r, And watch in agony, and weep in care: Now warm’d with hope, now chill’d with sad despair? ’Tis for my babe! for lo ! the spotted curse (Too oft the signal for the black-plum'd hearse) Clothes it in sores, and with relentless sway, Bars from its suffering eyes the light of day. Dear Innocent ! those eyes once more unclose; Let their sweet lustre heal thy mother’s woes: Give me that hand which to my lips I press’d, When hung ray babe, with comfort, on my breast. — But ah ! how swoln, deform’d, encrusted o’er I Those little fingers play, alas! no more. Late as I gaz’d upon thy cherub face, ’Twas rapture to my soul its charms to trace; Joyous thy smiles, the dimple on thy cheek, Seem’d Nature’s purest harmony to speak: Where is that dimple now? It plays no more: Alas! the purple bend has mask’d it o’er! Soon may thy tortur’d flesh to earth be giv’n : Soon may thy spirit reach its native heav’n.” When wafted, first, from spicy lands, the gale, Pestiferous, did nations wide assail, Foul, rancorous venom, what dire horror sprung In every breast, and spoke from every tongue! Then, Death, in shape unknown before, began T’ annihilate the iron strength of man. Alike, before thy undiscerning rage. Fell the sweet infant, and the hoary sage; None were secure, and few escap’d thy blow; Homes were deserted, families laid low ! Long, unresisted, lon^f, from sire to son,- The frightful horrors of contagion run.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3