RUSSIA. Silver Small Pox Vaccination Medal, ND (Instituted 1826). PCGS SP-63 Secure Holder.Dia-464.2. Awarded to the most distinguished smallpox inoculators. Crowned and mantled bust of Catherine II right, legend around; Reverse: Female (Hygiea) figure with out stretched arms surrounded by seven children, legend above. It is widely accepted and thought that the small pox vaccination was discovered in 1796 by the English doctor Edward Jenner whom experimented on a young Mr. James Phipps using fluid from milkmaids infected with cow pox. However, this practice did not begin with Dr. Jenner and only after he used cow pox did the term vaccination from the Latin word "Vacca" (meaning cow) come into use. In fact, inoculations had been used for centuries and according to some sources probably originated in the Orient. Catherine II preceded Jenner by about 28 years when in 1767 an epidemic broke out in Siberia killing tens of thousands of her subjects and she recruited Dr. Thomas Dimsdale in 1768, a famous inoculator of the day. Together with his son, Nathaniel Dimsdale, they inoculated the Empress and her son with a mild case of small pox to gain credibility with her subjects. On October 12, 1768 she was inoculated and developed a light case of small pox and by October 28th had fully recovered. She later inoculated around 140 members of her court, all who survived. Afterwards the inoculation became known and widely accepted. She saved countless lives of her subjects and went on the establish the first Russian college of medicine. VERY RARE and very attractive with a multitude of hues in the legends and lovely blues and purples in the wide open fields. Sure to excited the specialist of Russian Medallions or Medical history.
