The Story of a Great Delusion in a Series of Matter-of-Fact ChaptersWhite, William
History
The Story of a Great Delusion in a Series of Matter-of-Fact Chapters
White, William
Vaccination
Under Rodway’s Case Jenner showed that the farmers were at fault in
supposing that Smallpox kept off Cowpox. In the dairy where Rodway
was employed, all the milkers had passed through Smallpox, except
Rodway, and all contracted Cowpox; “but there was no comparison
in the severity of the disease as it was felt by them and by
Rodway. While he was confined to bed, they were able, without much
inconvenience, to follow their ordinary business.” Thus Jenner
argued that though Smallpox might not keep off Cowpox, it made
Cowpox milder.
VIII.--ELIZABETH WYNNE, Dairymaid.
In 1759 had Cowpox slightly when 19 years of age. “As the malady
had shown itself in so slight a manner,” observed Jenner, “and as
it had taken place at so distant a period of her life, I was happy
with the opportunity of trying the effects of variolous matter upon
her constitution, and on the 28th of March, 1797, I inoculated her”
without effect. Nevertheless in the following year, 1798, she again
caught Cowpox, having a “large pustulous sore” accompanied with
“general lassitude, shiverings, alternating with heat, coldness of
extremities, and a quick and irregular pulse.”
IX.--WILLIAM SMITH, Farm Servant.
Although [wrote Jenner as preface to this Case] the Cowpox
shields the constitution from the Smallpox, and the Smallpox
proves a protection against its own poison, yet it appears that
the human body is again and again susceptible of the infectious
matter of the Cowpox.
In 1780, when attending to Horses with sore heels, Smith
conveyed the equine infection to Cows, “and from the Cows it was
communicated to Smith. In 1791, the Cowpox broke out at another
farm where he then lived as a servant, and he became affected with
it a second time; and in 1794 he was so unfortunate as to catch it
again. The disease was equally as severe the second and third time
as it was on the first.” He was twice inoculated with Smallpox in
1795, and exposed to Smallpox without effect.
X.--SIMON NICHOLS, Farm Servant.
In 1782 was employed in dressing the sore heels of Horses, and at
the same time assisted in milking Cows, thereby infecting them and
generating Smallpox. Changing his situation, he communicated the
disease to other Cows, and was himself severely affected. Some
years afterwards, he was inoculated with Smallpox by Jenner without
effect.
XI.--WILLIAM STINCHCOMB, Farm Servant.
In 1782 had Cowpox severely on the same farm with Nichols. In 1792
he was inoculated with Smallpox along with a large party, but in
his case without result. “During the sickening of some of his
companions, their symptoms so strongly recalled to his mind his
own state when sickening with the Cowpox, that he very pertinently
remarked their striking similarity.”
XII.--HESTER WALKLEY, Farm Servant.
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