Name/Title
DOUGLASS, William (1691-1752)]. Inoculation of the Small Pox as practised in BostonDescription
DOUGLASS, William (1691-1752)]. Inoculation of the Small Pox as practised [sic] in Boston, Consider'd in a Letter to A--S--M.D. & F.R.S. in London. Boston: James Franklin, 1722..
EXTREMELY RARE FIRST EDITION OF THIS EARLY AMERICAN MEDICAL BOOK. Early in the summer of 1721 a severe epidemic of smallpox broke out in Boston, and Zabdiel Boylston was prevailed upon by Cotton Mather to carry out inoculations for smallpox during the epidemic. Douglass, the only academically trained physician in Boston at the time, strongly opposed Mather's views on inoculation, fearing it might spread the epidemic instead of containing it. "He accordingly published a series of four controversial 'inoculation' pamphlets, three of which were anonymous" (DAB).
Douglass was personally concerned since he had some time earlier lent Mather his own numbers of the Philosophical Transactions which contained the accounts of inoculation by Timonius and Pylermus which were carried out in the Levant.
This anonymous pamphlet was originally written as a letter to the British physician, Alexander Stuart. His postscript in the letter reads: "If I have been too rough with any Persons Character, & it afterwards appear that he acted in meer Zeal (tho' mistaken Zeal) for the Good of his Neighbours, I heartily ask his Pardon."
The topic of inoculation started a pamphlet and publicity war within int he local newspapers. James Franklin became the outlet for the biggest opponent, Dr William Douglass. This pamphlet was in fact printed by James Franklin, Benjamin's older brother and proprietor of the New England Courant, who also opposed inoculation in Boston. However, in 1722, Benjamin was essentially running James' press. It can be said with all confidence that Benjamin Franklin at the very least had a hand it this pamphlet's printing and publication, if it was not 100% from his work. Benjamin Franklin would leave his brother in 1723 and travel to Philadelphia.
Evans 2332; Garrison-Morton 5412; Guerra a-69; Norman 652A. Extremely Rare. WorldCat locates only 7 copies in institutions.
This is the Haskell Norman CopyOther Names and Numbers
Other Numbers
Number Type
ReferencesOther Number
Evans 2332; Garrison-Morton 5412; Guerra a-69; Norman 652A.Condition
Overall Condition
ExcellentDate Examined
Jul 1, 2025Notes
4o (168 x 101 mm). Stabbed as issued, uncut; cloth folder and quarter morocco slipcase. Fine condition.General Notes
Note Type
Cataloging NoteNote
For digital copy see: https://collections-us-east-1.awsprod.nlm.nih.gov/bookviewer?PID=nlm:nlmuid-2552020R-bk