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Passage through India: global vaccination and British India, 1800-1805
Between 1798 and 1805 the novel practice of vaccination spread rapidly around the globe, and its first introduction into India needs to be seen as the initiative of Edward Jenner and his followers rather than imperial policy. Against a background of military and imperial expansion, however, the British in India and Ceylon supported vaccination with resources and energy lacking at home. This paper examines the technical problems associated with the establishment of vaccination, the promotional and organisational strategies deployed, and the varied responses of the local population. The results were spectacular, with a million vaccinations - more than in Europe - by 1807, but the initial momentum was hard to maintain, not least because many Indians found the procedure intrusive and religiously offensive. Vaccination created new tensions in Anglo-Indian relations that anticipated and merged with the issues of imperial medicine that later became so salient in India. Nevertheless, the early campaigns established the practice firmly in parts of India and provided lessons, and inspiration for the vaccination cause worldwide.
History
Publication title
Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth HistoryVolume
35Pagination
201-220ISSN
0308-6534Department/School
School of HumanitiesPublisher
Taylor and FrancisPlace of publication
ColchesterRights statement
The definitive published version is available online at: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journalsRepository Status
- Restricted