zieds1mazs2.gif (177 bytes) ROOTS=SAKNES zieds1mazs2.gif (177 bytes) History zieds1mazs2.gif (177 bytes) Health zieds1mazs2.gif (177 bytes) Help

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

zieds1mazs.gif (257 bytes) Pastors should promote vaccination against smallpox 

 

Here a letter (1805) of Livland's Civil-gouverneur to all Pastors of Livland is presented. In this letter the Pastors are asked to develop persuasion campaign for vaccination among the countrymen. The Tzar ordered to began vaccination in 1802, so the Livland's officials were organizing the appropriate activities.

The vaccine was made of pus from lesions of cows infected with cowpox, but the civil-gouverneur taking into account "the limited comprehension of the country people" wished that the Pastors named the invention Schutzblattern and this name contains no hints at cows. Unfortunately, my German-English vocabulary proposed no translation of this word. It could be translated as protective leaves but I translated it as protective smallpox planting following the Latvian term of that time - sargadamu Bakku Dehstischana. I risk claiming that the promoting of vaccination was successful, and Latvians did not protest against it, though it was not total and several local epidemics took place later during the 19th century.

It should be added that this was quite a reasonable idea to have no hints at cows in the naming of smallpox vaccine. At that time in the West European countries the stories were published about cases when the vaccination caused serious changes of the vaccinated people who began to run on four legs or even horns began to grow on their foreheads. The authors of these publications were much more educated than Livland's peasants, no doubt.

The general information on smallpox in Baltics could be found in another Page.

 

An den Herrn Prediger des Trikatenschen
Kirchspiels.

Sr. Erlaucht der Herr Minister des Innern hat mir aufgetragen, die herren Landprediger im Liefländischen Gouvernemente aufzufordern, daß sie ihren Einsfluß auf die Begriffe und Meinungen der Landleute dazu anwenden mögen, um dem Landmanne seine etwanigen Vorutheile wider die Nützlichkeit der Inoculation der Schutzblattern zu benehmen und ihm die große Nützlichkeit dieser Erfindung bemerkbar zu machen, durch welche die Kinder ohne alle Gefahr vor den natürlichen Pocken sicher gestellt werden.

Indem ich mich hiedurch dieses Auftrags entledige, erwarte ich von Ihrem Eifer für das Wohl der Ihnen anvertraueten Gemeine und von Ihrer Amts-Klugheit, daß Sie sowohl in öffentliche Vorträgen, als auch in Privat-Unterredungen alles anwenden werden, um den Landmann, auf eine für seine Begriffe faßliche Art, von der Wohlthätigkeit der Inoculation der Schutzblattern zu überzeugen und ihm alle etwanige Vorurtheile wider selbige, zu benehmen.

Damit auch der Landmann, bei seinen eingeschränkten Begriffe, an dem Namen keinen Anstoß finde, wünsche ich, daß diese Erfindung ihm nicht unter der Benennung Kuhpocken, sondern unter der Benennung Schutzblattern bekannt gemacht werde.

Ueber den Empfang dieses Rescripts werden Sie der Liefländischen Gouvernements-Regierung zu berichten haben.

Riga, am 29sten September 1805.

Sr. Kaiserliche Majestät meines Allergnädigsten Herrn, Civil-Gouverneur des lifländischen Gouvernements, würklicher Etats-Rath und Ritter des Heiligen Annen-Ordens erster Klasse

C.A. v. Richter.

 

My translation:

To Sir Pastor of Trikate parish

His Lordship Minister of the Interior has entrusted me to appeal the sirs Pastors of the rural regions of Livland so that they would apply their influence upon the comprehension and opinions of the country people for  lessening their eventual prejudice against protecting inoculation of smallpox and for the elucidation of the great usefulness of this invention which protects children against natural smallpox without any exposing of  them to danger.

By carrying out the task I am waiting of you the eagerness for the well-being of the parish entrusted to you, as well as your professional wisdom, that you in publish talks, as well in private discussions, would use all means that would be comprehensible for the country people to convince them of the charitableness of the inoculation of protective plates and to eliminate eventual prejudices against it.

In order the country people, taking into account the limited comprehension of them, would find no offense in the name, I wish that the invention would be made known for them upon the name protective smallpox planting but  not cowpox.

You should report Livland's officials about the receipt of this letter.

Riga, September 26, 1805

The servant of my graciousest Master his royal Majesty, Civil Governor of Livland's province, actual state councilor and Knight of St. Anna Order of the 1st class

C.A. v. Richter.

 

 

© Comments Bruno Martuzâns. 1995-2002