Spoons commemorating smallpox recovery, England, 1740

Two silver spoons, made in London in 1740 and engraved to commemorate recoveries from smallpox in 1741.

It is thought that these silver spoons were intended to commemorate the recovery of individuas from smallpox. One is engraved with the following - 'EP to GM Smallpox 1741' the other 'EP to IM Smallpox 1741'. Smallpox was one of the most deadly infections during the 18th century, believed to have accounted for well over 5% of all deaths nationwide, with higher rates in cities like London. Once infected, around one in four cases proved fatal so surviving it was well worth celebrating. However, many individuals would be left with numerous scars on the skin as permanent reminders of the disease – although they would also receive long term immunity from it.

Although these cases occurred several decades before a smallpox vaccine became available – which was the first vaccine against any disease, developed by Edward Jenner – there was another method recently introduced into Britain that could provide a good level of protection against smallpox. Known as variolation, it was a technique for introducing live smallpox virus into the skin or nose that was probably developed in China or India, before being taken up in North Africa, the Middle East and eventually Europe. For most who received it, it caused a mild illness that usually provided lifelong protection, but it was a dangerous procedure that could sometime be fatal. An early British advocate of the practice in Britain from 1721 was Lady Mary Wortley Montagu who had witnessed it while in Türkiye.