Edward Jenner

Edward Jenner was born in 1749. He was an English physician, the discoverer of vaccination. Jenner studied medicine in London. He began practice in 1773 when he was twenty-four years old.

Edward Jenner liked observing and investigating ever since he was a boy. His persistent scientific work resulted in the discovery of vaccination against smallpox. Today cases of smallpox are very rare because every infant when it is about a year old is vaccinated against this disease. The vaccination is effective for a prolonged period of time.

In Jenner’s days one out of every five persons in London carried the marks of this disease on his face. But there were few people who recovered from the disease, because in the 18^th century smallpox was one of the main causes of death.

The disease had been common for centuries in many countries of Asia. The Turks had discovered that a person could be prevented from a serious attack of smallpox by being infected with a mild form of the disease.

One day Jenner heard a woman say, “I cannot catch smallpox, I have had the cowpox.” That moment led to Jenner’s continuous investigations and experiments.

The first child whom Jenner introduced the substance from cowpox vesicles obtained from the wound of a diseased woman was Jimmy Phipps. It was in 1796. For the following two years Jenner continued his experiments. In 1798 he published the report on his discovery. He called his new method of preventing smallpox “vaccination”, from the Latin word “vacca”, that is “a cow”.

At first people paid no attention to his discovery. One doctor even said that vaccination might cause people to develop cow’s face.

But very soon there was no part of the world that had not taken up vaccination. Thousands of people were given vaccination and smallpox began to disappear as if by magic.

VI. Переведите текст “Measles” со словарем.

Measles

Measles, or rubeola, is an acute, infectious disease, usually of childhood. It is one of the most contagious diseases known. The cause is a specific virus (Briareus morbillorum). The disease is more feared for its complications than for itself; it is of greatest risk to children between 6 months and 5 years of age. Young children should not be exposed to measles on the specious grounds that “they will get it anyway”.

Measles catches from measles; that is, from exposure to the oral or nasal discharges of an individual who has the disease. The incubation period of measles is from 7 to 14 days, usually about 9 or 10 days after exposure.

What are the symptoms of measles? The disease comes on suddenly, acting like a bad cold getting worse. The nose runs, the eyes are red and watery, a hard dry cough occurs, and fever goes up a bit every day for 3 or 4 days. On the third day of fever little white spots (Koplik’s spots) can be recognized inside the mouth by an experienced observer. On the fourth day a characteristic rash or skin eruption occurs. This usually begins behind the ears, spreads rapidly to the face and body. The rash comes out fully in 2 or 3 days, and the patient is sickest during this time. Then the skin eruption begins to fade, and the “spots” may become little dry scabs. With the disappearance of the spots, the patient usually improves rapidly. A child can be allowed out of bed 2 days after his fever is down and permitted to play with other children within the week. The disease is most contagious in its early stages, from about 4 days before until 5 days after the appearance of the rash.

What are the complications of measles? Most commonly they are pneumonia, bronchitis, and ear abscesses. They come on after the rash in most cases and are heralded by the fact that the fever does not come down promptly, as expected. Children with measles should be protected from adults and other children with colds or sore throats, for these are the usual agents of the complications. Fortunately, the complications of measles can be effectively treated with antibiotic drugs.

What can be done about measles? The disease can be modified by injections of gamma globulin, which offers temporary protection. It is recommended for children under 5 and those in rundown condition. During the course of the disease the patient can be kept comfortable, often in a slightly darkened room. The young child can be protected from exposure. Complications can be watched for and promptly treated.

An attack of true measles usually confers permanent immunity to subsequent attacks.

A successful preventive vaccine is now available.

Measles should not be confused with German measles (rubella), an entirely different disease.