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BAIOGRAPHY 037

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Born in 1749 in Berkeley, Gloucestershire, this individual was a (1) figure in medical history, often referred to as the “Father of Immunology.” Growing up in a rural English village, they pursued an early interest in science and (2) , training as an apprentice to a local surgeon before completing formal medical studies in London. Their groundbreaking contributions would ultimately revolutionize public health and save (3) lives.

In the late 18th century, they became (4) by the common observation that milkmaids who contracted cowpox, a mild disease, were seemingly immune to (5) , a devastating and often fatal illness. Building on this observation, they hypothesized that (6) to cowpox could provide protection against smallpox. In 1796, they conducted a famous experiment by inoculating a young boy with material from a cowpox (7) . Later, they exposed the boy to smallpox, and, as predicted, he did not develop the disease.

This procedure, which they termed “(8) ” (derived from vacca, the Latin word for cow), laid the foundation for the development of immunology. Their work marked the first scientific attempt to control (9) disease through a systematic, preventive approach.

Despite facing skepticism and resistance from some contemporaries, their discovery (10) gained acceptance and became a cornerstone of modern medicine. Smallpox, once a deadly global scourge, was eventually eradicated in 1980, thanks to the principles they pioneered. Their legacy endures as a testament to the power of observation, experimentation, and innovation in transforming human health.

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