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Far be it from me to sympathize with Cotton Mather, but reading about the Boston smallpox epidemic, I'm sympathetic to Cotton Mather.
In advocating variolation, he was targeted by Bostonians' "furious obloquies and invectives," a "monstrous and crying wickedness" from those engaged in "epidemical follies."
"They rave, they rail, they blaspheme; they talk not only like idiots but also like fanatics."
This guy had lost 3 children and a wife to a 1713 measles outbreak. He'd outlive 2 wives and 12 of 15 children. (Yes, only 3/15 survived him.)
This guy had lost 3 children and a wife to a 1713 measles outbreak. He'd outlive 2 wives and 12 of 15 children. (Yes, only 3/15 survived him.)
He takes it a little far when he uses the verb "crucify" to describe these attacks on his character. But then his house was bombed!
On Nov. 14, 1721, someone "threw a fired granado into the chamber." A note attached to the bomb read, "Cotton Mather, you dog, damn you: I'll inoculate you with this, a pox to you."
The bomb was inept & the fuse doused. Good job the note came through!
The bomb was inept & the fuse doused. Good job the note came through!
Variolation was regarded somewhat understandably with fear, as it introduced a live virus into a person, and thus into the community, potentially making everyone around the patient & his or her family vulnerable.
The rich could afford to variolate & isolate; the poor could not. Some of this resonates today, with the middle-class & elites able to WFH, while the working-class must work F2F and in conditions in which they can't control their exposure much of the time.
Modern Americans have nothing to fear from effective vaccines. The science is clear.
What excuse do we have to act like the deniers and anti-variolationists from 300 years ago?
What excuse do we have to act like the deniers and anti-variolationists from 300 years ago?
It may feel like everyone is crazy now, but keep your cool heads. Follow the best science and medical advice. We have beat back viral pandemics in years past, and we will again.
If you're fortunate enough to have a comfortable job & to WFH, donate/contribute to those who don't.
If you're fortunate enough to have a comfortable job & to WFH, donate/contribute to those who don't.
