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James Smith (American physician)

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James Smith
Born1771
DiedJune 12, 1841
Other namesJenner of America
EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Alma materDickinson College, 1792
Known for
  • Maryland Vaccine Agent, 1809-1832
  • U.S. Vaccine Agent, 1813-1822
  • Virginia Vaccine Agent, 1814
Scientific career
Fields
Institutions
Academic advisorsBenjamin Rush

James Smith (1771 - June 12, 1841), was a Maryland physician serving Baltimore City as a medical practitioner in 1797. In 1801, Smith, advocate for smallpox vaccination, established the Baltimore General Dispensary as a vaccine clinic for the impoverished administering the first smallpox vaccinations in Baltimore County, Maryland. Smith served as a vaccination agent for the states of Maryland and Virginia during the War of 1812.

In 1813, Smith emerged as the United States vaccination agent upon President James Madison's enactment of the Vaccine Act of 1813. The original Chesapeake Colonies solicited a vital 19th century medicine hindering the devastation of the variola virus. The American military forces could not burden the national security liabilities of a coastal viral pandemic reasonably considering the imminent Chesapeake campaign by the British Empire harmonized by the Battle of Baltimore as an addendum to the War of 1812.

Career

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The National Vaccine Institute was established in Baltimore City, Maryland as authorized by the Vaccine Act of 1813. Smith appointed as the United States vaccination agent provided accountability for the National Vaccine Institute;

In 1821, the National Vaccine Institute discovered an immunization physican in Tarboro, North Carolina conducted ten innoculations in the Tarboro settlement with the actual infectious pathogen – variola virus. Smith had unintentionally furnished bona fide smallpox matter by United States mail mistakenly in error for kinepox. In 1822, the 17th United States Congress repealed the Vaccine Act of 1813 debasing the medical practices of the National Vaccine Institute and United States Vaccine Agent.[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Repeal of Vaccine Act of 1813 ~ P.L. 17-50" (PDF). USLaw.Link. 17th Congress, Session I ~ 3 Stat. 677, Chapter L. United States Government Printing Office. May 4, 1822.

Plenipotentiary letters regarding vaccine circulation during War of 1812

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Biographical sketch of Smith

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