Letter 2599

Charles Maitland to Hans Sloane – August 8, 1721


Item info

Date: August 8, 1721
Author: Charles Maitland
Recipient: Hans Sloane

Library: British Library, London
Manuscript: Sloane MS 4076
Folio: f. 96



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Transcription

Fol. 96 Honoured Sir This comes to give you notice that the operation of inoculating the smallpox on the prisoners in Newgate is to be performed tomorrow morning about nyne o’clock, At which time your presence there will be very acceptable to Honoured Sir Yours most obedient humble servant Cha: Maitland

Charles Maitland (1668-1748) was a Scottish surgeon who, with Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, introduced smallpox inoculation to England. His first demonstration was to the Royal College of Physician in 1721. Then in 1722 an experiment was carried out on six prisoners at Newgate Prison under the direction of Sir Hans Sloane (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Maitland_(physician).




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