N01909:8
Several reasons proving that inoculating or transplanting the small pox, is a lawful practice,…
Several reasons proving that inoculating or transplanting the small pox, is a lawful practice, and that it has been blessed by God for the saving of many a life. By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Two lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland for J Edwards, 1721
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
II. WE hear that several Physicians have Recommended the Practice hereof to His Majesty, as a Means to preserve the Lives of his Subjects, and that His Wise and Excellent Majesty King GEORGE, as also his Royal Highness the Prince have approved hereof, and that it is now coming into practice in the Nation. In one of the Public Prints are these Words, Inoculating the Small Pox is a safe and universally Useful Experiment. Several Worthy Persons lately arrived from England inform us, that it is a successful Practice there: If Wise & Learned Men in England, declare their Approbation of this Practice, for us to declare our Disapprobation will not be for our Honour.
II. WE hear that several Physicians have Recommended the Practice hereof to His Majesty, as a Means to preserve the Lives of his Subjects, and that His Wise and Excellent Majesty King GEORGE, as also his Royal Highness the Prince have approved hereof, and that it is now coming into practice in the Nation. In one of the Publick Prints are these Words, Inoculating the Small Pox is a safe and universally Useful Experiment. Several Worthy Persons lately arrived from England inform us, that it is a successful Practice there: If Wise & Learned Men in England, declare their Approbation of this Practice, for us to declare our Disapprobation will not be for our Honour.
III. GOD has graciously owned the Practice of Inoculation, among us in Boston, where some Scores, yea above an hundred have been Inoculated, & not one miscarried: but they Bless GOD, for His discovering this Experiment to them. It has been objected, that one that was Inoculated, died, viz. Mrs. D—ll: but she had the Small Pox, in the common way before, & her Friends and nearest Relations declare that she received no hurt by Inoculation, but was by a fright put into Fits that caused her Death. It is then a wonderful Providence of GOD, that all that were Inoculated should have their Lives preserved; so that the Safety and Usefulness of this Experiment is confirmed to us by Ocular Demonstration: I confess I am afraid, that the Discouraging of this Practice, may cause many a Life to be lost, which for my own part, I should be loth to have any hand in, because of the Sixth Commandment.