JENNER, EDWARD. 1749-1823.


An Inquiry into the Causes and Effects of the Variolae Vaccinae, a Disease discovered in some of the Western Counties of England, particularly Gloucestershire, and known by the name of the Cow Pox. London: Sampson Low, for the author, 1798. 4to (267 x 210 mm). 4 engraved plates by William Skelton, color-printed in sanguine and enhanced with some hand-coloring (artist's name cropped off or shaved in three plates). Half title, errata leaf. Contemporary half calf, joints repaired, some rubbing. Some very light browning and occasional foxing to text and plates. Cloth folding case. FIRST EDITION, A MEDICAL CLASSIC, ANNOUNCING "ONE OF THE GREATEST TRIUMPHS IN THE HISTORY OF MEDICINE" (Garrison-Morton), and "the basis of the modern science of immunology" (PMM). "Jenner was the first to test experimentally the folk belief that cowpox conferred immunity to its deadly relative smallpox, and the first to transmit the cowpox virus from person to person in order to build a population immune to smallpox" (Norman). "Jenner started one of the greatest practical advances in preventive medicine and today there are inoculations ... against scarlet fever, typhoid fever, diptheria, whooping-cough and tetanus, as well as ... bubonic plague, cholera and yellow fever" (PMM). Dibner Heralds of Science 127; Garrison-Morton 5423; Grolier/Horblit 56; Grolier Medicine 53; Heirs of Hippocrates 1086; William Lefanu A bibliography of Edward Jenner 8 (1985); Norman 1162; PMM 250; Wellcome III, p 351.