Smallpox vacination. Historical artwork entitled 'The cowpox tragedy-scene the last' by George Cruikshank (1792-1878), satirical cartoonist. The illustration marks 12 years since Edward Jenner (1749-1823) performed the first smallpox vaccination using fluid from blisters caused by cowpox (vaccina). Jenner hypothesised and proved that by infecting an individual with the virus that causes cowpox, a weaker version of smallpox, they would become immune to smallpox.