Sample of Edward Jenner's hair, England, 1823
Edward Jenner (1749-1823) pioneered smallpox vaccination. In 1796 he successfully tested the theory that an attack of cowpox gave people immunity to smallpox. His results were published in 1798. This sample of hair was taken on the day he died – 26 January 1823.
Object number:
A604010
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Glossary:
Glossary: human hair
used to define human remains as part of the NMSI human remains policy (from April 2007); Other terms used are 'blood' and 'human remains'
Glossary: memento
An object kept as a reminder or souvenir of a person or an event
Glossary: cowpox
Viral infection of cows' udders, transmitted to humans by direct contact, causing very mild symptoms similar to smallpox.
Glossary: immunity
The condition of being immune, the protection against infectious disease conferred either by the immune response generated by immunisation or previous infection or by other nonimmunologic factors.
Glossary: smallpox
Smallpox is an infectious virus unique to humans. It results in a characteristic skin rash and fluid-filled blisters. After successful vaccination campaigns throughout the 1800s and 1900s, the World Health Organisation certified the eradication of smallpox in 1979. Smallpox is the only human infectious disease to have been completely wiped out.