冲突与妥协:传统文化与英属印度牛痘疫苗的推广

Conflict and Compromise:Traditional Culture and Promotion of Cowpox Vaccine in British India

19世纪初英国殖民者在英属印度推广牛痘疫苗,本以为是一场进步运动,不想这却与本土社会文化之间形成了旷日持久的冲突与妥协。随着牛痘疫苗的引入,印度民众的态度呈现出多样性,既有因文化差异和现实问题而导致的抵制,也有本土精英的改良建议和强制主张,以及在天花肆虐的特殊时刻印度民众的普遍接受。英属印度政府以促进牛痘疫苗的推广为目标,一方面采取强制手段取缔人痘接种,强行实施牛痘接种,另一方面也注重通过缓和与印度传统文化的紧张关系以及解决牛痘接种中的现实问题,对疫苗政策做出一定的调整。到19世纪末20世纪初,牛痘接种已取得很大进展,有效降低了天花死亡率。总之,19世纪牛痘疫苗在英属印度的推广是探索殖民时期印度社会历史变迁的重要切入点。

The introduction of cowpox vaccine in British India by the British colonists in the early 19century was expected to be a progressive movement,but it became a protracted conflict and compromise with the native society.With the introduction of cowpox vaccine,there was a diversity of attitudes among the Indian people,ranging from resistance due to cultural differences and practical problems,to improved advice and compulsory advocacy by the native elite,and to general acceptance by the Indian people at a particular time when smallpox was rampant.For the purpose of promoting the spread of cowpox vaccine,the British Indian government also focused on making certain adjustments to the vaccination policy by easing tensions with the traditional Indian culture and addressing the realities of vaccination,while taking coercive measures to outlaw variolation and enforce vaccination.By the end of the 19century and the beginning of the 20century,great progress has been made in vaccination,which effectively reduced the mortality of smallpox.In short,the promotion of cowpox vaccine in British India in the 19century is a significant entry point for exploring the historical changes in the Indian society during the colonial period.