cowpox

[ kou-poks ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Veterinary Pathology.

an eruptive disease appearing on the teats and udders of cows, cow, in which small pustules form that contain a virus used in the vaccination of humans against smallpox.

cowpox

/ ˈkaʊˌpɒks /

a contagious viral disease of cows characterized by vesicles on the skin, esp on the teats and udder. Inoculation of humans with this virus provides temporary immunity to smallpox. It can be transmitted to other species, esp cats

Origin of cowpox¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; cow ¹ + pox

Another function of the board of health is the preparation and distribution of vaccine (material containing the virus of cowpox).

Whether cowpox is a modified form of smallpox or a distinct disease is unknown.

After he had differentiated genuine cowpox, however, there was no difficulty in tracing its apparent protective power.

The boy went through an attack of cowpox in a regularly satisfactory manner.

Jenner demonstrated conclusively that the cowpox protects the human constitution from the infection of smallpox.

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