An account of the proceedings at the first anniversary meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at the Bristol Infirmary, on Friday, July 19th, 1833, containing the address delivered on that occasion, by Edward Barlow [and observations and questions respecting vaccination, by J. Baron].

Date:: 1833

Credit: An account of the proceedings at the first anniversary meeting of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Association, held at the Bristol Infirmary, on Friday, July 19th, 1833, containing the address delivered on that occasion, by Edward Barlow [and observations and questions respecting vaccination, by J. Baron]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$A natural association leads me next to consider the formidable epidemic with which se\ eral parts of these Kingdoms were so severely visited during the past year. My notice of it, however, must be very brief, for the subject has already been discussed almost to weariness, and any elaborate review of the various opinions and doctrines maintained respecting it, would occupy far more time than could be devoted to it on the present occasion. It may not be unpro- fitable, however, to offer a few remarks on its causes, its character, and its treatment. That the immediate cause was a specific poison conveyed by the atmosphere, there seems to be no dispute. The nature and source of this poison, how- ever, have been the theme of much keen argument- ation, some contending for a highly contagious character, while others have altogether denied the disease being contagious. It will be long ere this question can be set at rest, and the general doctrines of contagion must be rendered far more ])erfect than they yet are, ere any conclusion can be drawn which will be admitted by all parties. Many idols of the mind” require to be dispossessed, ere the minds of the controversialists can view the subject with the philosophic calmness and freedom from prejudice which so grave an enquiry especially demands. Ere the disease reached our shores, it had prevailed ex- tensively, and for several years, in our Eastern dominions, and it is well known that in that quarter of the globe the prevailing opinions were on the side of its not being ])ropagated by contagion. On such a subject the opinion of an obscure individual can be of little worth ; yet I may be permitted to remark$

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