During 1778 Dr. Edward Jenner of England discovered the cowpox virus to be a smallpox virus preventative without the dangers imposed by collection from a pox pustule.  By the 1970’s, smallpox was so well controlled that vaccination was reserved for individuals visiting or in endemic areas. Smallpox was the first disease to yield to a vaccine.

A fine and rare example of Spratley’s Vaccination Lancet by Parisian maker Robert et Collin, ivory handle, lancet with depth-stop, EC