b2318th

The smallpox vaccine was invented in 1796 by Edward Jenner. Jenner invented the vaccine when he realized that dairy maids with cowpox did not get smallpox, so he injected people with cowpox. Cowpox was much milder and was not contagious. This new treatment helped smallpox to disappear and Jenner laid the basis for the science of immunology. Previously, wealthy people in England had had access to the smallpox inoculation because of the work of Lady Mary Wortley: with inoculation, a small amount of the pus was given to someone so that they would be immune to the disease. It was very dangerous because some of the people who were inoculated died and because it people who were inoculated were contagious. McKay, John P, et al. __A History of Western Societies__. Boston, Massachusetts. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003. “Edward Jenner – Smallpox is Stemmed.” Online. Internet. Google.  Accessed 11 April 2009.
 * __Small Pox Vaccine__**