Triple bladed vaccination lancet, London, England, 1822-1875
- maker:
- John Millikin

Triple-bladed, vaccination lancet, steel and ivory, by Millikin of London, 1822-1900
The three blades would have been dipped into lymph material from a pus-filled skin blister of a person already vaccinated against smallpox. The lancet blade would then be inserted into the skin and used to vaccinate another person. This arm-to-arm vaccination was made illegal in 1898, as it could transmit other diseases. Specially prepared animal lymph was used instead. Vaccination did not give life-long immunity and needed to be repeated. Smallpox was the first disease that could be vaccinated against. This vaccination lancet was made by John Millikin, a surgical instrument maker.
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Details
- Category:
- Public Health & Hygiene
- Object Number:
- A615183
- type:
- lancet
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- medical instrument
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