The works of Edward Jenner and their value in the modern study of small pox.

  • Dock, George, 1860-1951.
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The works of Edward Jenner and their value in the modern study of small pox. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    vaccine inoculation, attentively conducted, impresses on the mind the perfect character of the vaccine pus- tule ; therefore, when a deviation arises, common pru- dence points out the necessity of reinoculation, first with vaccine virus of the most active kind, and second- ly, should this prove insufficient, with variolous virus.'' The general symptoms of vaccinia are described, but said not to occur in every case, and the later general symptoms are explained as due to the irritation of the pustule. Smallpox infection received before vacci- nation is said to be not always checked, although the pustule may advance without interruption. The lancet used for inoculation should always be perfectly clean. After each puncture it is proper to dip it into water and wipe it dry. The practitioner should be particularly cautious in observing that its point be free from rust, either contracted by common means, or from the action of the vaccine virus. The pres- ervation of vaccine virus upon a lancet beyond the period of a few days should never be attempted; as it is so apt to produce rust which, will decompose it. If Jenner had died about this time his fame would have suffered no loss. He had given the world a dis- covery that had already produced extraordinary re- sults. The future was necessarily beyond his power. In May, 1801, he published a pamphlet on the Origin of Vaccine Inoculation. He explained that this was necessary on account of the confounding of casual cowpox with that excited by inoculation. He made a number of statements, some of which were new, some not. He spoke of the history of cowpox and of his early investigations. A curious statement is made with reference to some experiments which he