AllthishasnotdeprivedCottonMatherofthecreditofsuggesting，andaboldandintelligentphysicianofthehonorofcarryingout，thenewpractice。Onthetwenty-seventhdayofJune，1721，ZabdielBoylstonofBostoninoculatedhisonlysonforsmallpox，——thefirstpersoneversubmittedtotheoperationintheNewWorld。Thestoryofthefierceresistancetotheintroductionofthepractice；ofhowBoylstonwasmobbed，andMatherhadahand-grenadethrowninathiswindow；ofhowWilliamDouglass，theScotchman，“alwayspositive，andsometimesaccurate，“aswasneatlysaidofhim，atoncedepreciatedthepracticeandtriedtogetthecreditofsuggestingit，andhowLawrenceDalhonde，theFrenchman，testifiedtoitsdestructiveconsequences；ofhowEdmundMassey，lectureratSt。Albans，preachedagainstsinfullyendeavoringtoalterthecourseofnaturebypresumptuousinterposition，whichhewouldleavetotheatheistandthescoffer，theheathenandunbeliever，whileinthefaceofhissermon，afterwardsreprintedinBoston，manyofourNewEnglandclergystoodupboldlyindefenceofthepractice，——allthishasbeentoldsowellandsooftenthatIspareyouitsdetails。SetthisgoodhintofCottonMatheragainstthatletterofhistoJohnRichards，recommendingthesearchafterwitch-marks，andtheapplicationofthewater-ordeal，whichmeansthrowyourgrandmotherintothewater，ifshehasamoleonherarm；——ifsheswims，sheisawitchandmustbehanged；ifshesinks，theLordhavemercyonhersoul！
ThusdidAmericareceivethisgreatdiscovery，destinedtosavethousandsoflives，viaBoston，fromthehandsofoneofourownMassachusettsphysicians。
Theyear1735wasrenderedsadlymemorablebytheepidemicoftheterriblediseaseknownas“throatdistemper，“andregardedbymanyasthesameasour“diphtheria。“Dr。Holyokethinksthemoregeneraluseofmercurialsininflammatorycomplaintsdatesfromthetimeoftheiremploymentinthisdisease，inwhichtheywerethoughttohaveprovedspeciallyuseful。
Atsometimeinthecourseofthiscenturymedicalpracticehadsettleddownonfourremediesasitschiefreliance。ImustrepeatanincidentwhichIhaverelatedinanotheroftheseEssays。WhenDr。Holyoke，nearlyseventyyearsago，receivedyoungMr。JamesJacksonashisstudent，heshowedhimtheformidablearrayofbottles，jars，anddrawersaroundhisoffice，andthennamedthefourremediesreferredtoasbeingofmoreimportancethanalltherestputtogether。ThesewereMercury，Antimony，Opium，andPeruvianBark。“Idoubtifeitherofthemrememberedthat，nearlyseventyyearsbefore，in1730，Dr。WilliamDouglass，thedisputatiousScotchman，mentionedthosesamefourremedies，inthededicationofhisquarrelsomeessayoninoculation，asthemostimportantonesinthehandsofthephysiciansofhistime。
Inthe“Proceedings“ofthisSocietyfortheyear1863isaverypleasantpaperbythelateDr。EphraimEliot，givinganaccountoftheleadingphysiciansofBostonduringthelastquarterofthelastcentury。ThenamesofLloyd，Gardiner，Welsh，Rand，Bulfinch，Danforth，JohnWarren，Jeffries，areallfamousinlocalhistory，andarecommemoratedinourmedicalbiographies。Oneofthem，atleast，appearstohavebeenmorewidelyknown，notonlyasoneofthefirstaerialvoyagers，butasanexplorerinthealmostequallyhazardousrealmofmedicaltheory。Dr。JohnJeffries，thefirstofthatname，isconsideredbyBroussaisasaleaderofmedicalopinioninAmerica，andsoreferredtoinhisfamous“ExamendesDoctrinesMedicales。“