Medical Discoveries
Smallpox was one of the most devastating diseases of 18th century Europe. In 1721 inoculation using a dead or weak form of the disease was introduced in England. Occasionally some people got sick from this and some died although symptoms were usually mild. By 1740, the procedure of inserting pustules from someone dying of the disease into a healthy person through a small wound was widespread in England and by 1770 rural areas and small towns were receiving it as well (McNeill 220-221). Soon after in 1774 a farmer by the name of Benjamin Jetsy had realized that cowpox, which was strictly bovine, seemed to cause immunity from smallpox. He received much criticism for inoculating his family with the cow pus even though his family never retained smallpox because of this (Cartwright 126).
It wasn't until 1796 until Edward Jenner, an English physician who agreed with Jetsy, realized that milkmaids never seemed to get smallpox. He also noticed that these women did get the cowpox on their hands. He developed a vaccine made from the cowpox which proved highly safe and successful in preventing smallpox. Jenner then published An Inquiry into the Cause and Effects of the Variola Vaccinae, a Disease Discovered in Some of the Western Countries of England Particularly Gloucestershire, and Known by the Name of Cowpox. It some some time before Jenner's vaccine was widely accepted. The affirmation of surgeons Henry Cline and George Pearson helped this process along (Cartwright 126-128).
It wasn't until 1796 until Edward Jenner, an English physician who agreed with Jetsy, realized that milkmaids never seemed to get smallpox. He also noticed that these women did get the cowpox on their hands. He developed a vaccine made from the cowpox which proved highly safe and successful in preventing smallpox. Jenner then published An Inquiry into the Cause and Effects of the Variola Vaccinae, a Disease Discovered in Some of the Western Countries of England Particularly Gloucestershire, and Known by the Name of Cowpox. It some some time before Jenner's vaccine was widely accepted. The affirmation of surgeons Henry Cline and George Pearson helped this process along (Cartwright 126-128).
British naval surgeon James Lind discovered that citrus fruits healed scurvy. He had perfomed many controlled experiments but it took many years for the navy to institute his advice. They did soon discover that not all fruits were created equal. In 1795 the navy began giving a daily ration of lime juice from cheap limes in the West Indies. Unfortunately it took some time to realize that the limes did not contain the proper vitamins and scurvy remained prominent for some time. Lind also developed an onboard device for sailors to distill sea water as well as quinine to treat malaria (McNeill 237-238).
Cleanliness and disinfection was not realized to be important until later in the 18th century. Diseases such as typhoid and typhus and salmonella were greatly reduced using simple practices of cleanliness. The same is true of puerperal fever. The bacteria was spread when women in the first hospitals were kept in confined quarters without ventilation and sanitary means. Once the discovery of the importance of sanitation came about, medical care and living conditions began to improve.
Cleanliness and disinfection was not realized to be important until later in the 18th century. Diseases such as typhoid and typhus and salmonella were greatly reduced using simple practices of cleanliness. The same is true of puerperal fever. The bacteria was spread when women in the first hospitals were kept in confined quarters without ventilation and sanitary means. Once the discovery of the importance of sanitation came about, medical care and living conditions began to improve.