A detail of experiments confirming the power of cow pox to protect the constitution from a subsequent attack of small pox, by proving the identity of the two diseases / by John Badcock.

  • Badcock, John, active 1816-1830.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A detail of experiments confirming the power of cow pox to protect the constitution from a subsequent attack of small pox, by proving the identity of the two diseases / by John Badcock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    how Can we account for the singular fact, that when Dr. Jenner petitioned Parliament for a reward, some years after his discovery had been tested, the subject underwent a most rigid and searching investigation before a Committee of the House of Commons, and no satisfactory evidence could be brought forward by his strongest opponents of one death from small pox after proper vaccination. It would be a serious reflection on the pro- fession, if the numerous failures of the pre- sent day were to be attributed to their care- lessness, for vaccination is now almost entirely performed by medical men, when formerly the operation was practised so successfully by many who had but very little pretensions to medical knowledge. The facts thus brought forward are sufficient to shew that the old stock of vaccine lymph has from some cause lost in a great measure its protecting power, and it becomes necessary to seek for some means to supply its place with a better virus. I have already observed that the disease shews itself naturally on the cow but rarely, and from various causes a con- siderable period of time might elapse ere a supply from that animal could be obtained.