Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, Fifth Series, No. 38, Vol. I, September 20, 1884Various
History
Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, Fifth Series, No. 38, Vol. I, September 20, 1884
Various
Periodicals
[Illustration:
CHAMBERS’S JOURNAL
OF
POPULAR
LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART
Fifth Series
ESTABLISHED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS, 1832
CONDUCTED BY R. CHAMBERS (SECUNDUS)
NO. 38.—VOL. I. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1884. PRICE 1½_d._]
VACCINATION.
On the western side of Trafalgar Square, beneath the shadow of the
great sea-lion Admiral Lord Nelson, might have been seen, until
recently, the statue of a pensive-looking almost beardless man seated
in a chair. But a new location in Kensington Gardens has been selected
for this statue, which is that of Dr Jenner, the discoverer of
vaccination.
Edward Jenner was born at Berkeley, in Gloucestershire, in 1749, his
father being vicar of that place. He was apprenticed to a doctor at
Sudbury, and afterwards came to London, where for a time he served
under John Hunter. After taking his diploma, he returned to his native
place, and it was here that he practised his profession, and also made
that great discovery which has proved such an inestimable benefit to
mankind. When he had become famous, and universal appreciation bespoke
him a great man, he received many tempting offers and solicitations to
take up his abode in the metropolis; but nothing succeeded in enticing
him from the rural scenes amidst which his medical triumphs had been
conceived. His life sped tranquilly on amidst the rustics he loved so
well until the year 1823, when death somewhat suddenly terminated his
earthly career.
As the village and neighbourhood in which Jenner served his
apprenticeship was mostly a grazing country, he was thrown much amongst
farmers and their servants. At a time when smallpox was raging among
them, his attention was attracted by hearing a milkmaid say that she
had once caught cowpox from the cows, and therefore smallpox wouldn’t
hurt her. He was much struck with this remark; and on making inquiries,
he found it was a common belief about there, that whoever caught
this disease from the cows was not liable to take smallpox. It is
rather curious that just about the time that Jenner was making these
inquiries, the same fact had been noted in Sweden, and some inquiries
were also set on foot there to investigate the matter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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