Genre:

Literary Gossip; Reportage; Abstract

Subjects:

Vaccination, Institutions | Disease, Government, Patronage | Experiment, Electricity, Government, Patronage, Internationalism

People mentioned:

Alessandro G A A Volta , Benjamin Franklin

Institutions mentioned:

Comité Central de Vaccine, Paris

    Gives an overview of the account given by the Comité Central de Vaccine concerning uptake of the small pox vaccine in France. Reports on the French response to the 'reward given by the British parliament to Dr. J. C. Smith, for his discovery of the efficacy of the nitrous acid fumigation in purifying infectious air. The French Minister for the interior Jean A Chaptal asserts that 'Guyton Morveau pointed out, in 1783, the use of fumigations by muriatic acid in purifying corrupted air'. Later 'Bonaparte has signified that it is his intention to propose a prize medal [...] for the best experiment which shall be made every year upon the galvanic fluid; and also the sum of 60,000 francs, to such persons as shall promote electricity and galvanism [...]. Foreigners of all nations may be competitors'. (533)