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HST 113 Oct 16

Experimentation and Inoculation Insights

  • Prisoners and Experimentation

    • Smallpox does not work with animals.

    • Unable to run animal tests leads to ethical experimentation on human subjects.

    • Elizabeth Harrison fulfills her contractual obligations but faces additional demands from the experimenters.

    • Initial freedom was granted for her participation; however, further would require observing whether she contracts smallpox.

    • Reasons for selecting Elizabeth over John:

    • Considerations about gender dynamics in society.

      • Richard's refusal to participate would be respected more than Elizabeth's due to societal norms regarding gender.

    • Elizabeth's outcome: she does not contract the disease after exposure.

  • Role of Princess Caroline

    • Caroline desires her children to be inoculated.

    • The Newgate Experiment involved adult prisoners rather than children.

    • Benevolent appearance:

    • She funds the inoculation of all children in an orphanage to portray a caring image.

  • Use of Orphans in Experiments

    • Choice for experimentation lies in their lack of legal guardians or advocates.

    • Vulnerability of orphans makes them easier subjects for testing vaccine safety, perpetuating a cycle of exploitation.

  • Impact of Inoculation Practices

    • Financial implications of inoculation: Physicians profit not by inoculating but by selling scabs of infected individuals.

    • Boston's smallpox epidemics convey the high mortality rates experienced during these outbreaks (circa 1721).

  • Cotton Mather's Role in Inoculation

    • Cotton Mather, a religious minister, advocates for inoculation after learning from his enslaved worker Onesimus about African practices.

    • Collaborates with physician Zabdiel Boylston to implement inoculation procedures.

    • The significance of Mather:

    • Uses scientific evidence to back his arguments for inoculation despite opposition from fellow clergy and physicians.

  • William Douglas, MD

    • Skepticism towards inoculation due to beliefs in natural preventative measures and divine intervention.

    • Ironic