John Fewster facts for kids

John Fewster (1738 – 3 April 1824) was a skilled surgeon and apothecary. An apothecary was like a pharmacist and doctor combined. He lived in Thornbury, Gloucestershire, England. Fewster was a close friend and colleague of Edward Jenner. Jenner is famous for creating the smallpox vaccine. Fewster played a very important role in this amazing discovery. In 1768, he noticed something key. He realized that if someone had already caught cowpox, they could not get smallpox.

Fewster went to Bristol Grammar School to start his education. After that, he spent seven years learning at the Bristol Infirmary. This was like a long training program to become a surgeon.

How the Smallpox Vaccine Was Developed

In 1768, Fewster made a big observation. He noticed two brothers, named Creed. Both had been variolated. This means they were purposely given a mild form of smallpox. This was done to protect them from a worse infection. But one brother did not react to the variolation at all.

Fewster asked the brother questions. He found out the brother had never had smallpox. But he had caught cowpox before. This made Fewster wonder. Could cowpox protect people from smallpox? He had never thought of this idea before.

He talked about this idea at a medical dinner. The meeting was at the Ship Inn in Alveston. He also told other doctors to look into this idea. Edward Jenner was at that meeting. Jenner was a young medical student at the time.

Fewster continued to watch this situation. But he did not write down many details.

Fewster's Later Actions

In 1796, Fewster was called to see a boy. The boy was sick with early smallpox. The boy's uncle, John Player, asked Fewster a question. He wondered if Fewster would give the boy cowpox. This might save him from smallpox.

Player said that Fewster replied to him. Fewster said he had thought of this before. But he had decided against it. He felt that variolation worked well. He thought an alternative was not needed.

However, Player reported that Fewster did vaccinate three children. He gave them cowpox in Thornbury. This happened in the spring of 1796. These vaccinations were done around the same time. This was when Jenner started his own first vaccinations.

Fewster never said that he discovered vaccination. He just helped with the early ideas.

See also

• The Fewster Family - Apothecaries and Surgeons of Thornbury
• Edward Jenner
• Smallpox vaccine