The 26th August had been appointed to be observed as the anniversary of the Devon and Exeter Hospital and "the governors of that noble institution assembled in the board-room, at eleven o'clock in the forenoon ....to consider of the propriety of 'authorising the medical gentlemen of this institution to 'vaccinate any poor person, gratis, at this hospital.'
Mr. S.F Milford, the vice-president, a worthy citizen whose speeches were even more ornate and pompous than the usual, proposed the motion in style, after which the Rev. Jonas Dennis seconded:
"he stated, to the honor of this county, that the first discovery of vaccination, was made about 40 years ago, by a Mr. Bragge of Axminster, who ascertained that the cow pox was not only a preventative of the finall pox, but also that it might be communicated by means of innoculation. He did not mean by this to detract from the merit of Dr.Jenner, since he had been the happy instrument of extending its practice, but it proved that vaccination was not so novel as some had imagined, yet as nothing was more difficult to remove than the prejudices of the lower order of society, when they found that this practice had been sanctioned by so large a number of governors as were now present, highly respected both as men of understanding and of independence, he doubted not but they would most willingly acquiesce in the measure proposed."
Bring back 'forenoon'! It is so much more elegant than 'morning'. And 'consider of'' has its charm.
I was jabbed gratis only a couple of forenoons ago - flu jab in one arm; covid booster in the other - and now both arms ache and I sleep on my back! Don't misunderstand! I am very grateful to the medical gentlemen and particularly, in my case, to the medical ladies at the Saint Leonard's vaccination centre.
Jabs world-wide, hey! And to think it all started with cows in Axminster!
Source: The Exeter Flying Post, 27th August, 1807.
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