Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-12-15
Edward JenneY.

the world. AS early as the tenth century,
Rhazes, a physician Of Bagdad, in Persia,
wrote an account Of its nature and fatal
consequences. Throughout India and Ara.
bia it was even earlier looked upon with
horror: gradually it spread towards the
West; Russia, Germany, France, Spain,
and England, in turn, knew by sad exPe-
rience its fearful power. 1t crossed the
broad Atlantic with the Spaniards to Peru ;
it filed the beautiful cities of Guatemala
and Mexico with mourning and woe. The
savages Of North America fell "like leaves
Of the forest" before its silent but deadly
stroke. Strong men and little children
alike became its victims; and the castle Of
the noble and the hovel of the peasant
were eqally subject to its call. 1t did not
come like the plague, after long years Of
absence, but it was always in the different
coun,ries-a universal scourge and terror.
When once stricken, the sufferer generally
fingered for eight or nine days, an otjec:
Of disgust and dread to those about him,
but recovery was almost unknown. This
circumstance, together with its fearfully
contagious power, Lad made the small, ,por
an object of fear to all, while at the same
time it had excited the intense interest and
close study Of many eminent medical men.
Edward Jenner was the son of an Eng
lish clergyman, who died when his little
boy was scarcely FIVE years old. The ED
est brother, Rev. Stephen Jenner, took the
child to his home, and watched over him
with all fathers love. 1t had been the
good ministers earnest wish that Edward
should be educated physician, and there
fore, after few years at boarding-school,
he was placed with Mr. Ludlow, surgeon
in neighboring town, that he might ear
ly become familiar with the names and na-
ture of medicines. At twenty years Of
age he went to London, and for two years
was under the instruction of the celebrated
John Hunter. BY his careful and diiigent
study, be won the affection of his teacher,
who through all his after career proved
warm friend.
Having completed bis studies, and being
pronounced competent to minister to the
sick and suffering among his fellow-men,
he removed to Berkeley, his native place,
where he commenced the practice of his
profession, though only tweIty-three. His
learning, success, and kindness of manner,
soon made him popular. and his visits were
extended to large circuit of country.
Cases Of smallpox often came under his
care, and caused him much anxious tho't.
While young boy, be had overheard q
woman remark, that "she couldn't have
the smallpox, because she had had the
kiue-pox." The incident was never for
gotten. Years afterwards he called to
mind that no instance OF the disease had
occurred among the dairymen Of the neigh
borhood; while the kine-pox, similar in
nature, but seldom fatal in its results, was
common among them. The kiue-pox, as
it name indicates, prevailed among cattle,
and the dairymen in milking and taking
care of them also contracted it. E
Dr.. Jenner Immediately began to make
inquiries on the subject, and after much
observation aud many experiments, con-
vinced himself that persoh once having
the kine-pox would never take the other,
however much exposed to it.
From this he formed the idea Of produ-
cling the lighter sickness In each individu-
al in the community, by an easy process
called vaccination; thus preserving them
from the deadly influence Of smallpox,
aud limiting, if not entirely surpressing,
its fearful ravages.
1t was in l776 that be commenced his
investigations, but such was the ignorance
spd superstition Of the common people,