564 Our Surroundings 



basis and published an article explaining the favorable effects, as 

 a preventive of smallpox, of a virus known as vaccine, derived 

 from the cow. He soon became famous as the discoverer of 

 vaccination to prevent smallpox. 



Although this method met with great opposition it was soon 

 accepted throughout the civilized world and is generally regarded 

 as a great blessing to mankind. On account of his discovery he 

 was elected an honorary member of many learned societies in 

 Europe. The latter part of his life was spent in spreading knowl- 

 edge of vaccination. He died at the age of 75. 



Darwin. Charles D. Darwin was born in England, February 

 12th, 1809. He was educated in a private academy and later went 

 to Edinburgh University where he discovered that his real interest 

 lay in natural history. He made many field trips with the Univer- 

 sity professors and so began his real contact with nature. Later 

 he entered Cambridge with the idea of becoming a clergyman, but 

 fell under the influence of Henslow, a noted biologist, and again 

 found his interest strongly turned to the field of nature. 



In 1831 he joined an expedition to South America and investi- 

 gated the flora and fauna of many sections of that continent. 

 Several years were spent in the study of plant and animal life t 

 both in these localities and during a voyage around the 

 world. 



Darwin became an authority on many phases of nature. He 

 made some exceptional studies of the social habits of ants and 

 bees. He disclosed to the world the great economic importance of 

 the earthworm as a fertilizer and worker of the soil. Finally 

 after many years of study and research, he gave to the world his 

 theory of how species of animals change and develop new charac- 

 teristics. He made many other highly important contributions to 

 science and was considered one of the great scientists of his time. 

 Darwin received honors and recognition from the chief scientific 

 societies of the world. He died in 1882. 



Lister. Joseph Lister was born at Upton, England, in 1827, 

 and was educated in London. He studied medicine, and in 1855 

 secured a fellowship in the Royal College of Surgeons of Edin- 

 burgh. After completing his course he taught surgery with great 



