A Statement of Facts Tending to Establish an Estimate of the True Value and Present State of Vaccination

This mid‑century essay opens with a clear‑cut purpose: to weigh the true worth of vaccination against the relentless scourge of smallpox. Written by a senior royal physician and Fellow of multiple scientific societies, the author frames his analysis within the records of the London Medical and Chirurgical Society. He notes that twenty‑one years have passed since Jenner’s cow‑pox discovery, yet the practice remains contested by skeptics.

The manuscript proceeds to lay out mortality figures from four fifteen‑year periods, contrasting the era before inoculation, the height of inoculation, and the early years of vaccination. Throughout, the tone is methodical yet persuasive, emphasizing the safety of vaccination and even suggesting ancillary health benefits. The text offers a compelling snapshot of early epidemiological reasoning and the social debate that shaped modern public‑health policy. Listeners will appreciate the blend of statistical rigor and earnest advocacy that marks this pivotal moment in medical history.