The backlash begins: superstition and science combine to attack Jenner's vaccine. (3.25 mins)
Secondary Resources
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Location details
John Birch, who wrote a fierce attack on vaccination, was a surgeon in St Thomas' Hospital London, so we filmed the module in the Old Operating Theatre, which once annexed the wards of St Thomas', and is now open to the public.
It's accessed through a twisting staircase in the gateway to St Thomas' Church, and it's a real gem: an early 19th century operating theatre, with raised viewing stands encircling the table where the bloody and brutal procedures (without anaesthetic!) would have taken place.
Our Sponsor: The Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust is a global charity dedicated to achieving improvements in human and animal health.
Timelines: "Smallpox through Time" was entirely funded with through a Wellcome Trust Public Engagement Award. We are very grateful for the Trust's support in the making of this resource.




