On the Difficulty of Preserving the Vaccine Virus on Thread or Glass
in Very Hot Weather

Dublin Core

Title

On the Difficulty of Preserving the Vaccine Virus on Thread or Glass
in Very Hot Weather

Subject

Waterhouse, Benjamin, 1754-1846
Vaccination
Manuscripts (document genre)
Charts (graphic documents)

Description

Some of the problems associated with the early smallpox vaccination work are highlighted in this manuscript of Benjamin Waterhouse. Without an adequate way to preserve the active virus at high temperatures, Waterhouse often found its efficacy compromised. During June and July, 1801, he charted the temperature and humidity in Cambridge to measure its effect on his vaccine matter and then devised these procedures to keep the matter cool and allow samples to be sent to his colleagues.

Abstract

Manuscript temperature and humidity chart by Benjamin Waterhouse

Creator

Waterhouse, Benjamin, 1754-1846

Date Created

1801 July, circa

Rights

The Boston Medical Library does not hold copyright on all materials in this collection. For use information, consult Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu

Access Rights

Access to the original work depicted requires advance notice. Contact Public Services at chm@hms.harvard.edu for additional information

Is Part Of

Boston Medical Library Rare Books Collection (B MS b10.2)

Format

text

Extent

excerpt (1 page)

Language

English

Type

text

Identifier

DigID0002461

Provenance

Gift of the Boston Athenaeum to the Boston Medical Library, 1968

Files

http://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/file_upload/0002461_dref.jpg

Citation

Waterhouse, Benjamin, 1754-1846, “On the Difficulty of Preserving the Vaccine Virus on Thread or Glass
in Very Hot Weather,” OnView, accessed March 28, 2024, https://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/items/show/6623.