Shropshire Routes to Roots

5. Smallpox

The history of the rise and decline of smallpox is perhaps one of the greatest success stories in the history of infectious disease. As many as 300 million people are thought to have died of smallpox in the 20th century alone. Epidemics of smallpox plagued Britain, and indeed Europe, until 1796 when Edward Jenner developed a vaccine. After this the numbers of infected individuals declined until the disease was officially declared, by the World Health Organisation, to have been eradicated in 1980.

Statement for Colin Embrey Larger image, in a new window [111kb] [Shropshire Archive reference: P241/L/7/18

This document from 1764 describes how Colin Embrey was sent home when it was discovered that he had smallpox. For the poor the terror of smallpox was not just the disease but also the loss of employment.

What is smallpox?

Small pox is caused by the variola virus which is contracted through breathing in infected material. Like leprosy and tuberculosis it is spread through droplet infection. The virus particles are released by sneezing, coughing and spitting. The virus can remain on bedding and clothing and still be viable for up to a week. The first symptom of the disease is a rash which quickly develops into pus filled blisters. The virus is highly contagious at this stage and fatal in 30% of cases. Even if the victim survived they were likely to be badly scarred, or pockmarked. This is why Jenner called it "The speckled monster".

This poster from 1877 lays out the findings of the 1875 Public Health Act. It clearly shows the fear of contagion by smallpox.

Smallpox poster Larger image and transcript, in a new window [Shropshire Archives: DA3/889/7]

Were there any cures for smallpox before Jenner's Vaccine?

In 1717 a certain Lady Montague travelled with her husband, the British ambassador, to Turkey. She had recently survived smallpox although she was badly scarred. In Turkey she noticed that the locals exposed healthy individuals to infection by rubbing scabs from a smallpox sufferer into their skin. This often resulted in a mild form of the disease which offered some immunity to the virus. Lady Monatague was influential and saw the potential of this process known as "variolation". Indeed she was so convinced by it's effectiveness that she had her two children innoculated.

By the end of the eighteenth century innoculations of this type were common during outbreaks of smallpox. Variolation was effective but there was a considerable risk involved. In about 3% of cases they contracted a fatal form of the disease. Individuals innoculated would also have been carriers and undoubtedly contributed to the spread of the virus.

How different were Jenner's findings?

In 1796 Edward Jenner, a doctor in Gloucestershire, noticed that milkmaids who had a skin infection resulting from cowpox seemed not to contract smallpox. He concluded that the cowpox gave some immunity against the disease. He attempted to prove this by experimenting on a young patient, James Phipps. He scratched the boys skin and rubbed some of the pus from a cowpox lesion into the skin. The boy was mildly unwell for a few days after the "vaccination". Some weeks later Jenner repeated the experiment but this time he used material from a smallpox scab. Despite having been infected the boy remained well. Although there was some opposition to Jenner's findings, vaccinations using cowpox led to a steady fall in deaths from smallpox.

Contract for John Finlay Boa Larger image, in a new window [139kb] [Shropshire Archive reference]

This is a vaccination contract for John Finlay Boa who was contracted to carry out vaccination in 1895 for the Guardians of the Poor. This was part of a compulsory vaccination programme for children.

This document dated October 1887 calls Lizzie Wozencraft for vaccination. To not vaccinate your child would result in a fine. At what age should the child be vaccinated? What must happen in the week succeeding the vaccination? Why was this measure taken?

Vaccination request for Lizzie Wozencraft Larger image and transcript, in a new window [Shropshire Archives]

The widespread vaccination programme which continued up to the early 1980's has resulted in the eradication of smallpox. The routine vaccination of populations has now ceased. Do you think that the population today would still be immune to the disease?

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