Now! Then! 2024! - Yorkshire On This Day

A Yorkshire Almanac Comprising 366 Historical Extracts, Red-letter Days and Customs, and Astronomical and Meteorological Data

2 May 1817: Public unrest at Leeds regarding the efficacy of the smallpox vaccine

Anne Lister. 1992. I know my own heart. Ed. Helena Whitbread. New York: New York University Press. Get it:

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Excerpt

Immediately after breakfast, walked to Halifax (Betty being cleaning my room). Sat an hour with Mrs Rawson. She mentioned the great alarm now prevailing at Leeds and other places about vaccination, several children having, not withstanding, been seized with the smallpox. Many were having their children inoculated and in many instances the infants had been taken in spite of previous vaccinations which had been pronounced perfectly good at the time. It seems, however, to be observed that those who have been vaccinated have the smallpox more favourably and much more mildly.

To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations:

  • ER: East Riding
  • GM: Greater Manchester
  • NR: North Riding
  • NY: North Yorkshire
  • SY: South Yorkshire
  • WR: West Riding
  • WY: West Yorkshire

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Original

Friday 2 May (Halifax)
Immediately after breakfast, walked to Halifax (Betty being cleaning my room) … Sat an hour with Mrs Rawson. She mentioned the great alarm now prevailing at Leeds & other places about vaccination, several children having, not withstanding, been seized with the smallpox. Many were having their children inoculated & in many instances the infants had been taken in spite of previous vaccinations which had been pronounced perfectly good at the time. It seems, however, to be observed that those who have been vaccinated have the smallpox more favourably & much more mildly.

94 words.

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