Review by Choice Review
Epidemics of smallpox have plagued humanity through the centuries. The feasibility and safety of vaccination, the subsequent standardization of the vaccine, and the ultimate institution of compulsory vaccination worldwide has resulted in the eradication of the causative variola virus, arguably the greatest achievement of the World Health Organization (WHO); all this has been the subject of several books, notably the magisterial work published by WHO, Smallpox and its Eradication by F. Fenner et al. (CH, Jul'88). The promise that vaccination can eradicate other infectious diseases now threatening humanity, such as AIDS and "mad-cow" disease, has captured the imagination of most and has been the center of intense scientific activity and extensive media coverage. Bazin (Univ. of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium) recounts the story of eradicating smallpox; he focuses on the role of Edward Jenner (1749-1823), who in 1796 introduced vaccination by inoculation with attenuated cowpox virus. A brief overview of the history of smallpox is followed by material on how Jenner's vaccine was refined and successfully applied in the eradication of smallpox in the ensuing eight decades. Very few social, political, and scientific events that shaped this major accomplishment are considered. Originally published in French, the translation is rather stiff, lacking in fluency, and does not read smoothly. Attractive illustrations. General readers. G. Eknoyan; Baylor College of Medicine
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
