Globalisation of variolation : the overlooked origins of immunity for smallpox in the 18th century / Alicia Grant.

  • Grant, Alicia, 1948-
Date:
[2019]
  • Books

About this work

Description

"Devastating epidemics of untreatable smallpox caused not only deaths but dire disfigurements of face and body as well as one third of all blindness. In the 20th century mortality was estimated at 300 million up to 1978, the year it was proclaimed to be eradicated. Historically, the fact has been overlooked, often forgotten, that the preventative practice of variolation for smallpox was widely adopted internationally during the 18th century and was the precursor to refinement as cowpox vaccination. Never previously traced was the extensive global adoption of the technique or the impetus for this transmission and how, in these countries of its adoption, variolation was the prime mover for a national concept of public health with the establishment of free institutions. The global adoption of the first invasive medical prophylaxis for any disease, the origin of immunity, deserves its place in history."--From back cover.

Publication/Creation

New Jersey ; London : World Scientific Publishing Europe Ltd., [2019]

Physical description

xv, 360 pages : illustrations, maps (some colour) ; 24 cm

Bibliographic information

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents

England : the testing of a premise -- Turkey : religion and variolation -- England and France : implementation versus mentation -- Russia : from pioneers to public health -- Sweden : scenario of contrasts -- Colonies of America : victory for variolation -- Sources and stepping stones.

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatus
    History of Medicine
    FS.H
    Open shelves

Permanent link

Identifiers

ISBN

  • 9781786345844
  • 1786345846