84 Kansas Academy of Science. 



Probably one child in fourteen died from smallpox. Pocked 

 faces were as common as normal visages. Again there was 

 a serious objection to this practice, founded upon good judg- 

 ment, and that was that other diseases could be communicated 

 from one individual to another as a consequence. Further, 

 one never knew just to what extent the engrafted smallpox 

 would develop. 



In the year 1747 there was born in England a man who 

 may well be placed as the third culminate in the progress of 

 medicine — Hipocrates, Galen and Jenner. To Jenner belongs 

 the credit for the practical elimination of the horrors of small- 

 pox. He showed a scientific bent of mind early, studied medi- 

 cine under the famous John Hunter, and while at Sodbury in 

 practice a chance remark of a milk -maid patient was re- 

 sponsible for his interest and contribution to vaccinaton. 

 During one of his visits the subject of smallpox was men- 

 tioned. She informed Jenner that to contract the disease 

 in her case was impossible, as she had had cowpox. Again 

 we must give credit to the peasantry for another remarkable 

 observation. It had been known for a long time that the 

 udders of milk cows frequently contained ulcers and pustules, 

 and that similar lesions were transmitted to the hands of the 

 dairymen ; further that those who had contracted the cow 

 disease were immune to smallpox. 



The simple statement of the dairy maid profoundly affected 

 Jenner. Instead of dismissing her asseverations as a mere 

 superstition, he investigated. After extensive observations, 

 Jenner, in 1780, confided his hopes that cowpox would prevent 

 smallpox. In 1796 he performed his first crucial experiment. 

 Into the abraided skin of the arm of a young man he trans- 

 ferred the pustular matter from the cow. Later this young 

 man was exposed to smallpox without eflfect. Other experi- 

 ments established the effectiveness of vaccination. From 1796 

 to 1823 Jenner's activities were almost solely concerned in 

 convincing the world of the merits of vaccination. He met 

 with bitter opposition. To transmit beastly diseases to men 

 was considered a crime against the Most High. It was re- 

 ported that bovine heads grew out at the points of vaccina- 

 tion. Children who had been vaccinated were reported to 

 have developed cow faces covered with hair; others to bellow 

 like bulls. These were among the comments of both doctors 



