The Eradication of Smallpox: Edward Jenner and The First and Only Eradication of a Human Infectious Disease - Hardcover

Bazin, Hervé

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0120834758 ISBN 13: 9780120834754

Publisher: Academic Press, 1999

Synopsis

Simply, and with great humanity, The Eradication of Smallpox tells the story of smallpox - it's origins, the horror of the disease, and the millions of people killed or disfigured by it. During the 18th and 19th centuries, it is estimated that one out of every ten people died from the disease; some say one out of every seven. Smallpox attacked very young children in particular.

The story progresses with the practice of variolation, the life of Edward Jenner who first proposed 'vaccination' with cow pox vaccine (little James Phipps was the first person ever vaccinated in this way), the years of debate about the efficacy of this novel method, and the later worldwide initiatives to rid the planet of this horrific disease. In 1979, the story culminates in the only total eradication of an infectious disease that mankind has ever accomplished. This year celebrates the 20th anniversary of this momentous achievement.

In the intervening years, debate has raged about what we should do with the remaining smallpox viral stocks. Do we destroy them, so they can't fall into the hands of bioterrorists, or do we maintain them, in case they may be of use in some unexpected way, for therapeutic purposes? These questions are thoroughly discussed in the book.

• Covers the background, history and origin of smallpox, and brings the story up to the present day
• Gives full and interesting details of Jenner's life, and tells how this humble country doctor brought about a revolution in vaccination
• Includes many quotes from historical figures
• Features 120 high quality photographs, many originating from unique historical plates in the author's private collection
• Includes new research data
• Provides new views on the eradication and destruction of smallpox

About this title

About the Author

Hervé Bazin is Professeur Extraordinaire at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Louvain, Belgium.

From the Back Cover

Every one of us can be glad - for ourselves, for our children - that humankind has triumphed in eradicating smallpox from the world.
What toll of human suffering lies in the past? How many died or were disfigured by this cruel disease? Where did it come from, how was it transmitted? How did Edward Jenner, a humble country doctor bring about a revolution in vaccination that changed history in an almost unparalleled manner?
What has happened since then to eradicate this disease, and how have we managed the world's remaining stocks of the virus - kept under the tightest security in two sites in Russia and the USA?
Our lives have all benefited immeasurably from the history recounted here. Thoroughly researched, and written in an engaging style by Hervé Bazin, the story of the eradication of smallpox - from it's first known origins to the present day - is a fascinating, heart-rending, humorous and uplifting tale. Illustrated with 120 photographs, many originating from unique historical plates in the author's private collection, this book is just testimony to the success of immunology and virology, and marks the 20th anniversary of the global eradication of this infectious disease.
"Since the discovery of the vaccine is the only one that medicine has achieved in the current period, it will suffice as an eternal illustration of our period in the history of science, and to immortalise the name of Jenner by assigning him an eminent place amongst the principal benefactors of humanity."
Cuvier (1810)

Edition details

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0120834758
• ISBN 13: 9780120834754
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 246