Some observations on the varioloid disease, which has lately prevailed in Edinburgh, and on the identity of chicken-pox and modified small-pox, in a letter addressed to Dr Duncan, junior / by John Thomson.

  • Thomson, John, 1765-1846.
Date:
1818
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some observations on the varioloid disease, which has lately prevailed in Edinburgh, and on the identity of chicken-pox and modified small-pox, in a letter addressed to Dr Duncan, junior / by John Thomson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    in the following terms: “ The opinion suggested by you, that these diseases may all owe their origin to one and the same con- tagion, if true, would close up much debateable ground—con- nect and explain many anomalies—simplify our future inquiries— and place beyond any doubt the supremacy of vaccination, as a prophylactic of regular small pox. Although the opinion sug- gested does still appear to me very doubtful, I think you will do quite right to publish your observations at once, and in the way you proposed. This will re-agitate a most important patho- logical question, and elicit from others, interesting information on many yet doubtful points in the history of those diseases. Though doubtful, however, I am far from thinking your opinion fanciful or unfounded ; on the contrary, I could furnish some hints rather favourable to its probability.” Before concluding these observations, permit me to avail my- self of this opportunity, to return my best thanks to my friends, Drs Maclagan, Moncrieff, Tweedie, and Bartlett, and to Messrs Johnston, Shetky, White, and Thomson, for the opportunities which they have afforded me of seeing the patients affected with this disease under their care; and permit me at the same time to say, that I should feel myself particularly obliged to any of your readers who take an interest in this subject, by their communi- cating, through the medium of your Journal, or by letter, ad- dressed directly to myself, any facts which may have occurred in their practice, tending either to confirm or to refute the hypo- thesis, that small-pox, chicken-pox, and modified small-pox, all proceed Jrom one and the same contagion. I remain, dear Sir, yours, &c. 5, George Street, ^ John Thomson, M. D. 3 5th September 1818. ) Printed by George Ramsay and Co.