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London smallpox deaths
London recorded a record 3,538 smallpox deaths for the year. -
First Compulsory Vaccination Attempted
Marianne Elisa of Lucca (Napoleon’s sister) became the first ruler to try making vaccination compulsory. She was unable, however, to determine a practical method of enforcement. -
Pacini Links Bacterium to Disease
Italian physician Filippo Pacini (1812-1883) linked the cholera bacterium to the disease itself. Pacini microscopically observed samples from the intestines of cholera victims and noted the presence of tiny, comma-shaped particles that he suggested were the cause of the disease. (The bacterium is known today is Vibrio cholerae. The genus Vibrio includes several species of comma-shaped or rod-shaped bacteria that are mobile by means of a whip-like flagellum, or tail-like structure.) -
Vaccination Law Passes
Massachusetts passed the first U.S. law mandating vaccination for schoolchildren. -
Smallpox Hospital Loses 110 Patients in 1 Week
Richmond’s smallpox hospital admitted 250 patients during the week of December 12-19. Of the 250, 110 died.