Jenner, Edward

Edward (1749-1823), an English physician of Gloucestershire. Young Jenner went up to London and studied medicine with the celebrated anatomist, John Hunter, in whose family he lived for two years. On returning to his native Berkeley he gave his attention to the plague of smallpox permanently prevalent in all parts of the country. Starting with the hint given by the dairymen that those who had taken cowpox by milking cows were not subject to smallpox. Dr. Jenner investigated the matter and formulated a regular plan of giving vaccinia or cowpox as a preventive of the more dangerous pox. He had the courage even to vaccinate his own child. In 1798 he published his method of vaccination. It was ridiculed by the medical profession, but Jenner had friends in good standing. His method was adopted for the British Army, and grants of $150,000 were made him by Parliament. See Vaccination; Smallpox