Smallpox Vaccination Scab Carrier - Dr. F. E. Chatard

Object Details

Description (Brief): This small gold case has ornate chasing upon its hinged lid. The bottom half of the case is filled with wax. It is a decorative scab carrier - a scab containing vaccinia virus would have been set upon or within the wax, which, along with the tightly closed case, would have kept the scab moist and fresh. The fresh scab could then be easily carried by a doctor who used it when performing vaccination against smallpox.; The engraved inscription on the lid of the case on reads "Dr. F. E. Chatard." Ferdinand Edme Chatard was born August 3,1805 and died October 18, 1888. He had a general practice in Baltimore and specialized in obstetrics. Chatard received a degree in medicine in 1826 from the University of Maryland. He later studied in France for three years. F.E. Chatard's father had been a physician, as well.

Credit Line: Gift of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of the State of Maryland

1826-1888

Physical Description: gold (overall material); wax (overall material); brass; wax (overall material)
Measurements: overall: .6 cm x 2.7 cm; 1/4 in x 1 1/16 in; overall: 1/4 in x 1 1/8 in; .635 cm x 2.8575 cm

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Medicine; Health & Medicine; The Antibody Initiative; Antibody Initiative: Smallpox
Exhibition: First Do No Harm
Exhibition Location: National Museum of American History

National Museum of American History

GUID (Link to Original Record): https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-f96f-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa