The Cow-Pock—or—the Wonderful Effects of the New Inoculation!

Description: 

In 1802, James Gillray, the famed satirist and cartoonist, etched this scene of Edward Jenner Inoculating patients. This grotesque scene of people morphing into cows encapsulates the state of affairs within the vaccination debate at the time. Their were many that were weary of the growing practice, similar to the vaccine hesitancy seen today. Vaccine hesitancy is an issue that is common across both modernity and post-modernity. Many people feared that the procedure was not safe, and could lead to people developing bovine features. Gillray is seen here exaggerating these claims. 

Source:

https://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3g03147/

Associated Place(s)

Timeline of Events Associated with The Cow-Pock—or—the Wonderful Effects of the New Inoculation!

Artist: 

  • James Gillray

Image Date: 

1802