For a very long period of time, pathogens, or disease-causing organisms and substances, have truly devastated humanity. Numerous prominent personalities of history have been afflicted by such complications. George Washington, in the early years of the American Revolution, was bothered by one of the notorious variola diseases through the course of time: smallpox. He described such conditions caused by these viruses as a potentially greater threat; greater than “the Sword of the Enemy”. This virus not only threatened his life, but it compromised their victory of Washington’s army as well, when they were fighting for independence from Britain (Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 2015). Smallpox and other variant viruses continued to ravage not only
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In 1796, using the blood of an infected victim, Jenner experimented on an eight-year-old-boy, by the name of James Phipps. He injected the smallpox contaminated serum into the bloodstream of the youngster. Consequently, the boy developed a mild fever and discomfort in certain parts of the body, and after that he had lost his appetite. Jenner felt hopeless, but much to his surprise, the boy felt better days after. He injected the boy with fresh smallpox virus again, thinking that the initial amount he injected did not suffice, but the boy did not develop and infections. There he was able to patent the world’s first ever vaccine. This method was not accepted during his time, due to controversies regarding violation of ethical concepts and morals, by injecting deadly diseases into children, but in the early 20th century, due to desperation, the world finally resorted to it, and of course, found it effective. Today in the modern era, we do not have to worry about this virus killing us, and wiping away the population, thanks to the remarkable work of Edward Jenner (Riedel,
In 1796, using the blood of an infected victim, Jenner experimented on an eight-year-old-boy, by the name of James Phipps. He injected the smallpox contaminated serum into the bloodstream of the youngster. Consequently, the boy developed a mild fever and discomfort in certain parts of the body, and after that he had lost his appetite. Jenner felt hopeless, but much to his surprise, the boy felt better days after. He injected the boy with fresh smallpox virus again, thinking that the initial amount he injected did not suffice, but the boy did not develop and infections. There he was able to patent the world’s first ever vaccine. This method was not accepted during his time, due to controversies regarding violation of ethical concepts and morals, by injecting deadly diseases into children, but in the early 20th century, due to desperation, the world finally resorted to it, and of course, found it effective. Today in the modern era, we do not have to worry about this virus killing us, and wiping away the population, thanks to the remarkable work of Edward Jenner (Riedel,