On the origin of the vaccine inoculation / by Edward Jenner.

  • Edward Jenner
Date:
1863
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the origin of the vaccine inoculation / by Edward Jenner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Cow Pox) fhould in fome inftances be perfectly fhielded from the Small Pox, and in many others remain unprotected, I re¬ fumed my labours with redoubled ardour. The refult was for¬ tunate; for I now difcovered that the Virus of Cow Pox was liable to undergo progreflive changes, from the fame caufes pre- cifely as that of Small Pox; and that when it was applied to the human fkin in its degenerated ftate, it would produce the ulcera¬ tive effefts in as great a degree as when it was not decompofed, and fometimes far greater; but having loft its fpecijic properties, it was incapable of producing that change upon the human frame which is requifite to render it unfufceptible of the variolous con¬ tagion : fo that it became evident a perfon might milk a Cow one day, and having caught the difeafe, be for ever fecure; while another perfon, milking the fame Cow the next day, might feel the influence of the Virus in fuch a way, as to produce a fore or fores, and in confequence of this might experience an indifpo- fition to a confiderable extent; yet, as has been obferved, the fpe- cific quality being loft, the conftitution would receive no pecu¬ liar impreftion. Here
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