Facts and documents relating to the establishment of the Ophthalmic Hospital.

Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Facts and documents relating to the establishment of the Ophthalmic Hospital. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/32 (page 17)
    SECT. III. SIR WILLIAM ADAMS’S CLAIMS. Sir W. Adams is not acquainted with any case that has been sub¬ mitted to the consideration of Parliament, to which he can refer as being parallel to his own, inasmuch, as where public remuneration has hitherto been bestowed upon any Member of the Medical Pro¬ fession, it has been for communications which have more especially tendecf to the benefit of society at large : whereas Sir W. Adams pre¬ sumes to hope, that while he has added his mite to the public benefit, he has more particularly contributed to the “ health and efficiency” of the army, and has already been the means of a considerable saving to the Government in pensions. The case of Dr. Jenner appears to approximate most nearly to the present, although unquestionably they bear no degree of com¬ parison in point of general importance; inasmuch as the improved practice for Ophthalmia possesses the power merely of preserving or restoring sight, while that of Vaccination, as preserving life, is con¬ fessedly the most important which has ever been introduced into the science of medicine. Upon no occasion therefore has the gratitude of mankind—the liberality of the legislature—and the respect of the medical profession, been more justly bestowed, than upon the dis¬ tinguished individual to whom humanity is so deeply indebted, and to whose skill and observation the world owes the invaluable dis¬ covery which renders memorable the epoch in which it was made, and which will hand his name down to the latest posterity. Sir W. Adams, while he thus most respectfully conveys his im¬ pression of the merits of Dr. Jenner, feels called upon, injustice to himself and to his family, to point out some differences which ap¬ pear to exist with regard to the character of their respective cases, conceiving that they tend materially to strengthen his claims to the favourable consideration of Parliament. Dr. Jenner, it will be recollected, without solicitation,published his discovery; and thus, unsolicited, gave up the possession of his opi¬ nions and practice to the public. Sir W. Adams, it has been shewn, was officially invited to communi¬ cate his opinions and practice for the benefit of the army; which ap¬ plication was made to him at a time, when, from the great extent to C