Edward Jenner Flashcards
Who was Mary Wortley Montague and what did she do?
Montague had her children inoculated in Turkey in 1721. Because she was a very influential woman, when she returned to England, the idea of inoculation became widespread across Britain.
What did Jenner notice among farmers and milkmaids?
He noticed that the farmers and milkmaids that contracted cowpox would not get smallpox.
What did Jenner do after he made the connection between cowpox and smallpox?
1796: He took cowpox from Sarah Nelmes and then injected it into James Phipps’ arm. James became slightly ill but the vaccination was a success. After the success he supplied the doctors with cowpox matter.
1802: The government gave Jenner £10 000. The Jennerian Society was set up in London to provide free vaccines against smallpox
1852: The British government made vaccination against cowpox compulsory but it was not properly enforced until 1872
1980: The World Health Organisation declared that smallpox had been eradicated.
Why did Jenner’s idea not progress to begin with?
- Doctors did not want to provide everyone with free vaccinations because they would lose money.
- The public were suspicious and believed that they would turn into cows if they were given the cowpox vaccine
- Jenner could not explain why his theory worked (Germ Theory had not been discovered yet) so it was considered insignificant for medical progress
- The Royal Society refused to publish his work so Jenner had to raise the money himself to spread his ideas
- Vaccinations were not always successful because doctors would use infected needles and mix the cowpox and smallpox samples up
What were the long-term impacts of Jenner’s work?
- Smallpox was eradicated worldwide by 1980
2. He saved millions of lives through his discovery
Who was Edward Jenner?
The pioneer of the vaccinations
During what time period did Jenner make his discoveries?
Industrial
