OF THE SMALL-POX.

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►nins tt prie&ts. In this country the custom is still in its infancywe make no doubt, however, but it will soon become so familiar,(hat parents will think no more of inoculating their children than atpresent they do of giving them a purge.

No set of men have it so much in their power to render the prac-tice of inoculation general as the clergy, the greatest opposition toit still arising from some scruples of conscience, which they alonecan remove. I would recommend it to them not only to endeavourto remove the religious objections which weak minds may have tothis salutary practice, but to enjoin it as a duty, and to point out thedanger of neglecting to make use of a mean which Providence hasput in our power for saving the lives of our offspring. Surely, suchparents as wilfully neglect the means of saving their children's lives,are as guilty as those who put them to death. I wish this matterwere duly weighed. No one is more ready to make allowance forhuman weakness and religious prejudices; yet I cannot help recom-mending it, in the warmest manner, to parents, to consider howgreat an injury they do their children, hy neglecting to give themthis disease in the early period of life.

The numerous advantages arising from the inoculation of thesmall-pox, have been pretty fully pointed out by the learned Dr.M'Kenzie, in his History of Health. "Many and great, " says thishumane author, " are the dangers attending the natural infection,from all which the inoculation is quite secure. The natural infectionmay invade weak or distempered bodies, by no means disposed forits kindly reception. It may attack them at a season of the yeareither violently hot or intensely cold. It may be communicatedfrom a sort of small-pox impregnated with the utmost virulence.It may lay hold upon people unexpectedly, when a dangerous sort isimprudently imported into a maritime place. It may surprise ussoon after excesses committed in luxury, intemperance, or lewdness.It may likewise seize on the innocent after indispensable watching 1 ;,hard labour, or necessary journies. And is it a trivial advantage,that all these unhappy circumstances can be prevented by inocula-tion ? By inoculation numbers are saved from deformity as -well asfrom death. In the natural small-pox how often are the finestfeatures, and the most beautiful complexions, miserably disfigured ?Whereas inoculation rarely leaves any ugly marks or scars, evenwhere the number of pus-tules on the face have been very consider-able, and the symptoms by no means favourable. And many othergrievous complaints that are frequently subsequent to the naturalsort, seldom follow the artificial. Does not inoculation also preventthose inexpressible terrors that perpetually harrass persons who neverhad this disease, insomuch that when the small-pox is epidemical,entire villages are depopulated, markets ruined, and the face of dis-tress spread over the whole country'? From this terror it arises,that justice is frequently postponed, or discouraged, at sessions orassizes where the small-pox rages. Witnesses and juries dare notppear; and by reason of the neecsiary absence of some gentlemen,Our honourable and useful judges are not attendee with that re r

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