Page "Edward Jenner" Paragraph 35

Jenner continued his research and reported it to the Royal Society, which did not publish the initial paper.

After revisions and further investigations, he published his findings on the 23 cases.

Some of his conclusions were correct, some erroneous ; modern microbiological and microscopic methods would make his studies easier to reproduce.

The medical establishment, cautious then as now, deliberated at length over his findings before accepting them.

Eventually, vaccination was accepted, and in 1840 the British government banned variolationthe use of smallpoxand provided vaccinationusing cowpoxfree of charge.

( See Vaccination acts ).

The success of his discovery soon spread around Europe and for example was used en masse in the Spanish Balmis Expedition, a three year long mission to the Americas, Philippines, Macao, China, and Saint Helena Island led by Dr. Francisco Javier de Balmis with the aim of giving thousands the smallpox vaccine.

The expedition was successful, and Jenner wrote, " I don ’ t imagine the annals of history furnish an example of philanthropy so noble, so extensive as this.