Edward Jenner’s smallpox inoculation experiment was based on his observation that some dairymaids who worked with cows had suffered lesions on their hands, but that these dairymaids were immune to the more severe smallpox. He inoculated James Phipps with material from the lesions on a dairymaids’ hands. Which best explains why Jenner decided to infect Phipps?

Question

Edward Jenner’s smallpox inoculation experiment was based on his observation that some dairymaids who worked with cows had suffered lesions on their hands, but that these dairymaids were immune to the more severe smallpox. He inoculated James Phipps with material from the lesions on a dairymaids’ hands. Which best explains why Jenner decided to infect Phipps?

The material contained antibodies that could destroy the smallpox pathogen.
The material contained pathogens that were similar to but weaker than the smallpox pathogen.
The material had oxygen that could help the cells of the body fight off smallpox infection.
The material contained a pathogen that could attack the smallpox pathogen.

Answer 1

The material contained pathogens that were similar to but weaker than the smallpox pathogen. This allowed Jenner to potentially stimulate Phipps' immune system to create immunity to smallpox without causing severe illness.