continued to prosper, owing to the efficient measures of his predecessors. An important event during this period, which marked a new era in medical science, but in which Iturrigaray merely complied with the royal orders, was the introduction of vaccination into New Spain.[1] In the course of this history the terrible ravages of small-pox at different periods have been dwelt upon. Tenner's discovery, after having met with long opposition on the part of the medical faculty, finally overcame the prejudices of the age. In 1801 its value was recognized by the government of Spain, and its introduction in America intrusted to Alejandro Arboleya, professor of medicine, who came over with Iturrigaray. His method of preserving vaccine matter, however, was defective, and its application was not successful till two years later, when the home government sent out a special commission of medical men under Francisco Javier de Balmis.[2] They arrived at Vera Cruz in July 1804. Some months previously Iturrigaray had imported vaccine matter from Habana, but found the prejudice against it so strong that only ten soldiers could be induced to use it. After the arrival of Balmis, however, the remedy was soon introduced throughout the country, when of course the horrors of smallpox were greatly diminished.[3]
- ↑ Jenner, the discoverer, was a native of Berkeley, England; he was born May 17, 1749, and died January 24, 1823. For his biography, see the excellent work of Dr Baron, of Gloucester, 2 vols., 1827, 1838.
- ↑ He was honorary physician to the king and honorary counsellor of the treasury. The other members of the expedition were Antonio Gutierrez, professor of medicine and surgery, Angel Crespo, secretary of the commission, Francisco and Antonio Pastor, Pedro Ortega, Doña Isabel Cendal, and lastly, 26 infants from a foundling-house, on whose bodies vaccine matter was preserved during the voyage. Lerdo de Tejada, Apunt. Hist., pt v. 342-4. This author received the particulars from two members, Gutierrez and Crespo. See also Humboldt, Essai Pol. The first child vaccinated was that of the viceroy. Alaman, Disert., iii. app. 87; Cavo, Tres Siglos, iii. 207; Rivera, Gob. de Mex, i., 522; Zamacois, Hist. Mex., vi. 15
- ↑ Balmis extended his labors to Manila. Some of the commission went to South America, and one to Guatamala. The historical infants were reared at the expense of the government, and finally adopted by respectable families. Lerdo de Tejada, Apunt. Hist., pt v. 344; Cavo y Tres Siglos, iii. 207.
