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
An extensive inflammation of the erysipelatous kind appeared
without any apparent cause upon the upper part of the thigh
of a sucking Colt, the property of Mr. Millet, a farmer at
Rockhampton, the inflammation continued several weeks, and at
length terminated in the formation of three or four small
abscesses. The inflamed parts were fomented, and dressings were
applied by some of the same persons who were employed in milking
the Cows. The number of Cows milked was 24, and the whole of them
had the Cowpox. The milkers, consisting of the farmer’s wife,
a man and a maid-servant, were infected by the Cows. The man
servant had previously gone through the Smallpox, and felt but
little of the Cowpox. The servant maid had some years before been
infected with the Cowpox; and she also felt it now in a slight
degree. But the farmer’s wife, who had never gone through either
Smallpox or Cowpox felt its effects very severely.
That the disease produced upon the Cows by the Colt, and from
thence conveyed to those who milked them, was the _True_ and
not the _Spurious_ Cowpox, there can be scarcely any room for
suspicion; yet it would have been more completely satisfactory
had the effects of variolous matter [Inoculation with Smallpox]
been ascertained on the farmer’s wife; but there was a
peculiarity in her situation which prevented my making the
experiment. (P. 62.)
Spurious Cowpox! What was Spurious Cowpox? Here is Jenner’s answer--
Pustulous sores frequently appear spontaneously on the nipples
of the Cows, and instances have occurred, though very rarely, of
the hands of the servants employed in milking being affected with
sores in consequence, and even of their feeling an indisposition
from absorption. These pustules are of a much milder nature than
those which arise from that contagion which constitutes the
True Cowpox. They are always free from the bluish or livid tint
so conspicuous in the pustules of that disease. _No erysipelas
attends them_, nor do they show any phagedenic disposition, as in
the other case, but quickly terminate in a scab without creating
any apparent disorder in the Cow. This complaint appears at
various seasons of the year, but most commonly in the spring,
when the Cows are first taken from their winter food and fed with
grass. It is very apt to appear also when they are suckling their
young. But _this disease is not to be considered as similar in
any respect to that of which I am treating_, as it is incapable
of producing any specific effects upon the Human Constitution.
However, it is of the greatest consequence to point it out here,
lest the want of discrimination should occasion an idea of
security from the infection of the Smallpox, which might prove
delusive. (Pp. 7 and 8.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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