In 1756, the then owner of Kingsnympton Park, James Buller, donated to the church a stunning collection of silver, in thanks for the survival of his family and around 80 villagers from smallpox, which at the time was a highly infectious disease with a high mortality rate (see below for more information)
In 1756, smallpox was a prevalent and deadly infectious disease in the United Kingdom. Smallpox is caused by the variola virus and is characterized by fever, a rash, and the formation of fluid-filled blisters on the skin. It is highly contagious and spreads through respiratory droplets or direct contact with the fluid from the blisters.
During the mid-18th century, smallpox outbreaks were a regular occurrence in the UK, affecting both rural and urban populations. The disease was particularly devastating because there were no effective treatments or preventive measures available at that time.
The mortality rate of smallpox varied, but it was estimated to be around 30% on average. However, in some outbreaks, the mortality rate could be as high as 90% in vulnerable populations, such as infants and young children. Smallpox also left survivors with severe scarring and, in some cases, blindness.
To combat the disease, variolation, a precursor to vaccination, was occasionally practiced. Variolation involved deliberately infecting individuals with a small amount of smallpox virus in the hope that they would develop a mild case and gain immunity. This practice was risky, as it could lead to severe illness or death in some cases.
In 1796, Edward Jenner introduced the concept of vaccination, which involved using cowpox virus to immunize against smallpox. This marked a significant milestone in the fight against the disease, but in 1756, vaccination was not yet available.
It wasn't until the 19th century that widespread vaccination campaigns began to have a significant impact on smallpox rates in the UK. Vaccination efforts, combined with improved sanitation and public health measures, eventually led to the eradication of smallpox worldwide in 1980.
In summary, smallpox was a highly contagious and deadly disease in the UK in 1756. It caused significant mortality and morbidity, with outbreaks occurring frequently. However, effective vaccination programs were not yet available at that time, and it took several more decades for vaccination to become a widely used preventive measure against smallpox.
