Lot Essay
"Jenner established the fact that a 'vaccination' or inoculation with vaccinia (cowpox) lymph matter protects against smallpox. He performed his first vaccination on May 14, 1796. The above work, describing 23 successful vaccinations, announced to the world one of the greatest triumphs in the history of medicine. Jennerian vaccination soon superseded the protective inoculation of material from human cases of smallpox, which had previously been in vogue. What is probably the first mention of anaphylaxis appears on p. 13 of the pamphlet ... As a result of the success of Jenner's vaccine natural smallpox was eradicated. The official declaration was made by the World Health Organisation on May 8, 1980" [GM]
The term "vaccination" as the new process was called derived from the Latin, "vacca" (cow), while Jenner himself introduced the term "virus" (slime or poison) into English to refer to the material that produced cowpox. His slim quarto book was published at his own expense, the coloured engravings illustrating the mild pustules produced by the cowpox infection.
The term "vaccination" as the new process was called derived from the Latin, "vacca" (cow), while Jenner himself introduced the term "virus" (slime or poison) into English to refer to the material that produced cowpox. His slim quarto book was published at his own expense, the coloured engravings illustrating the mild pustules produced by the cowpox infection.