The document discusses the deadly smallpox disease in the 18th century and Edward Jenner's pioneering work developing the smallpox vaccine. It describes how Jenner observed that milkmaids who had previously contracted cowpox did not get smallpox, leading him to test the theory that cowpox protected against smallpox. In 1796, Jenner conducted an experiment where he took cowpox matter from a milkmaid and inoculated an 8-year-old boy, who was later exposed to smallpox but did not become ill, demonstrating the effectiveness of vaccination. Though initially met with some skepticism, vaccination was widely adopted and led to the eradication of smallpox by 1980.

1. Smallpox: The fight begins against infectious diseases. Mr McDonald

2. What we will learn today: Why was smallpox so deadly. Who was Edward Jenner. What was his theory? What was the significance of his idea.

3. Smallpox In the eighteenth century, smallpox was a killer disease. The victims who contracted the disease had frightening symptoms. The symptoms were a high fever, sores over the body and when the disease spread to the organs it was a certain death. People who survived were terribly scarred.

4. Inoculation One idea to combat smallpox was inoculation. This was when people deliberately infected themselves with a weakened version. It did not often work.

5. Edward Jenner (1749 – 1823) Doctor from rural Gloucestershire. Studied under a great doctor (James Hunter) in scientific observations. Jenner noted that an old tale that milk maids did not catch smallpox appeared to be true.

6. The Theory in Practice In 1796, Jenner decided to test out his theory by experimentation. He heeded the words of his mentor John Hunter “don’t think – try the experiment.” He needed two things for his experiment. Someone who has never had either cowpox or smallpox. And the diseases

7. The experiment Sarah Nelmes , milkmaid had cowpox matter taken from her hand and placed via a cut into James Phipps, an 8 year old.

8. The experiment The boy caught cowpox and was ill. Six weeks later, he was given smallpox by Jenner. He had no symptoms – he was vaccinated. The term Vaccination comes from Vacca meaning cow – Blossom the cow was famous!

9. Reaction Not everyone welcomed it. Some people thought that they would turn into cows Others argued that as Jenner did not know why it worked they feared it would not. Doctors who got rich by inoculation did not like it.

10. Reaction to smallpox vaccine

11. Long term reaction By 1800, 100,000 people had been vaccinated. Napoleon vaccinated his entire army in 1805. In 1980, smallpox was deemed to have been eradicated by the WHO (World Health Organisation).