Today March 16th, is National Vaccination Day. It was on this day in 1988 that the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Polio Eradication Incentive began. Then on the same day in 1995, the first dose of oral Polio vaccine was given in India. A lot has gone on with vaccinations ever since Edward Jenner invented the first vaccine. He took active cowpox from one person and gave it to another. Cowpox was similar to smallpox but not as dangerous. Immunization from cowpox kept one from getting smallpox.
My first book is “Great Men of Medicine” by Ruth Fox Hume, 1961. This book is from the second series of Landmark books, called World Landmark Books. Like the first series, these are books about people or events in history, each book made for junior high students, and about 195 pages long. They were Baby Boomer books. This one has chapters about Edward Jenner, and his ‘conquest of smallpox’; Louis Pasteur and his ‘battle against Bacteria’; And Alexander Fleming and ‘the discovery of penicillin.’
Modern medicine science involves shots-vaccinations. It can be pretty scary for kids.
The picture is from the book “Minnie the Mump and other stories” by Paul Trip, 1970.
This is nice book on explaining to kids what is happening when they visit the doctor. A side note on this book is that it was promoted in doctor’s offices. Notice the sticker on cover. Inside the book cover was a note to mothers, explaining why the book was printed, and that it was available at leading bookstores. It also stated that if you try “three age-graded Vi-Daylin vitamin forms-drops, liquids or chewables, and send in the receipt” you can get your free copy of this book.
“The Book Devils, Drugs and Doctors the story of the science of healing from medicine-man to doctor” by Howard W. Haggard, MD, 1929. A good book on discussing the history of medicine. It is quite interesting on how with every change, every advance in medicine, there was much resistance. With Edward Jenner, there was. This book discusses well his story, and many others. This would be a good book in any library.
I have included a picture from the book that shows illustrations of several prominent people in medicine, Florence Nightingale the mother of modern nursing, Edward Jenner, first to inoculate a small boy with cowpox to immunize against smallpox; Louis Pasteur for killing microbes and developing pasteurization; Lord Lister, the father of antiseptics.
Interesting details on Lord Lister (Joseph Lister 1827-1912), was he studied and improved on sterilization of instruments for surgery, cleaning wounds, and promoting that bacteria and germs hinder recovery. In 1879, Dr. Joseph Laurence invented a wash that was an effective antiseptic for surgeries. He named it after the pioneer of antiseptics-Joseph Lister. In 1895, it was marketed to dentists for cleaning germs in the mouth.
Vaccinations are a big part of being heathy today. Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, (M.M.R vaccine) have been severely curtailed. A few other diseases brought down by vaccinations are Tetanus, Polio, Smallpox, Chickenpox, and Whooping Cough. Way to stick it to the (bad) man!
There is also an added bonus to vaccinations. When I see my grandkids running around with squirt guns, I break out a few of my old syringes. There may not be a lot of water in one, but the accuracy and distance achieved is amazing-one could say deadly. Medical Science is wonderful to see in action. Super (soaker) Grandpa is too.
Librarytomes 