Ben Franklin on Vaccines

 From Back When Vaccines Were Actually Dangerous

[From old Ben's autobiography*]

Testifying, I am

In 1736 I lost one of my sons, a fine boy of four years old, by the small-pox, taken in the common way.  I long regretted bitterly and still regret that I had not given it to him by inoculation. This mention for the sake of parents who omit that operation, on the supposition that they should never forgive themselves if a child died under it; my example showing that the regret may be the same either way, and that, therefore, the safer should be chosen.

"...Under it."

In those days live variola virus (sometimes pus from pustules) from a person with a "milder" case of smallpox was put in a small puncture or scrape. The "variolated" patient then caught a -- hopefully milder -- case. If they did not die, they became immune to the frequently deadly disease. Most people getting the treatment survived, but it was definitely scary.

Ben's The Man

I'm a huge fan and deep admirer of Ben Franklin. I've read hundreds of his letters and in them I see one of the most admirable men in American history.

I'm sure you are glad to know that.

*The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, Cameo Classics by Oral Sumner Coad