VWrV UNITED STATES OF AMERICA * ME FOUNDED 1836 WASHINGTON, D. C. GPO 16—67244-1 CONSTITUTION OF THE VACCINE SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA. PUBLISHED BY DIRECTION OF THE SOCIETY. PHILADELPHIA: V ^ : 1S13. W. BROWN, PRIMER, CHURCH ALLEY. CONSTITUTION OF THE PHILADELPHIA VACCINE SOCIETY. IN the spring of 1809, a number of persons, af fected with the sufferings of the Poor, agreed to form a society, for extending to them the benefits of Vac- cination. They divided, themselves into Commit- tees, who sought out the objects of their Association in the City, Southwark and Northern Liberties ; and persuaded them to submit to Vaccination ; which was performed at their dwellings by physicians ap- pointed by the Society. This first effort proving successful, was repeated in the following year with like effect, HqojHO (* ) The way being thus opened, the Society employ- ed persons to collect the names of such as were willing to receive the benefits of the Institution. These names were, as before, reported to the phy- sicians for Vaccination. In this manner the business has been conducted for four years; and in order to shew the effect pro- duced, the following statement is given: In 1809 - 1102 Persons were successfully 1810 - 955 vaccinated. 1811 - 1277 1812 - 1255 Total 4589. By the annual official reports of the Board of Health, it appears—That there died of Small-pox, in the city of Philadelphia, the Northern Liberties, and district of Southwark, In 1807 32: 1808 145 1809 101 1810 - - 140 1811 117 1812 - - none Total 535 The mode, adopted by the society^ of seeking for the poor at their own houses, has appeared to be ( 5 ) absolutely requisite, in order to dispense the bene- fits of Vaccination amongst them. It is well known, by those who have been occupied in giving assist- ance to this class of the community, that the means of affording them relief must be made very easy aud within their reach. The Society, having made the successful experi- ment for several years, with their present limited re- sources, now offer, to their Fellow-citizens at large, the following Plan of an Association for extending the Benefits of Vaccination; hoping that the impor- tant Results, noticed in the official Reports of the Board of Health, will prove satisfactory; and in- duce the benevolent to co-operate with them in more effectually applying the means, graciously made known by a merciful Providence, of lessening hu- man misery, and avoiding the sufferings and morta- lity consequent on one of the most loathsome and dangerous diseases to which mankind have been incident. I. The members shall consist of such persons, as pay annually to the treasurer of the society, the sum of five dollars, to be due on the first day of the ftrst month. II. The society shall meet on the first fourth day of the first month in every year. At this meet- ing they shall elect a clerk, who may call special meetings, when requested in writing by seven mem- bers. They shall also choose twelve managers. ( 6 ) whose business it shall be to appoint one or more collectors of cases, physicians, and a Treasurer— also generally to regulate all the affairs of the insti- tution. III. Five managers shall be a sufficient number to transact business. They shall make au annual report, at the meeting in the first month, of the per- sons vaccinated, and of the receipts and expendi- tures of monies during the last year. IV. The collector or collectors of cases shall call on such persons as may be deemed suitable objects for vaccination, and report them to the phy- sicians ; a regular account whereof shall be kept for the inspection of the managers ; and for these services such compensation shall be allowed, as the board of managers may judge proper. V. The business of the physicians shall be to go to the houses of the patients and vaccinate them. They are to keep an account of the names, ages, places of abode and occupations of the persons vaccinated ; and if the patient be a minor, of the pa- rent or guardian, with the events ; and report the same to the managers, who shall allow them a proper compensation for their services. VI. The treasurer shall receive all annual con- tributions, donations and legacies, aud pay the same to orders drawn by direction of the society, or of the board of managers. (7) VII. Any person, wishing to withdraw from the society, must give three months notice to the trea- surer, previously to the first day of the year. VIII. No alteration to this constitution shall be made, unless three months notice thereof is given, at a meeting of the society. Published by order and on behalf of the so- ciety. THOMAS WISTAR. SAMUEL SETTLE. PHILIP GARRETT. ELLIS FARNALL. SAMUEL P. GRIFFITTS. DAVID JONES. GEORGE WILLIAMS. JOSEPH PARRISH. WILLIAM PENROSE. CHARLES ALLEN. JOHN PAUL. JOSEPH M. PAUL. Philadelphia, 11th Mo. 15th, 1813. MecL. Hist. wz. 110 ?5*tfo iSiiii §:"■?■■■' lliiifeiit:': sSrw:^ KOT 'vV> i&* >*aSi2L» Pj '.