Scene 6

Chantry House. Doctor Jenner’s Surgery

The Evening of 2nd May.

​

 

[Jenner is sitting in his surgery writing up some notes in his large red diary].

 

Catherine:            [Entering the surgery] Edward, you really must get some rest, you’ve been working since five this morning.

 

Jenner:                 It’s not that easy, my dear, the disease is on the rise again with many more succumbing to it in this region.

 

Catherine:            Just what is it you’re doing down here day after day, night after night?

 

Jenner:                 I’m trying to stop the disease dead in its tracks.

 

Catherine:            [clearly a little cynical] And just how do you plan to do that?

 

Jenner:                 Well, I think I’m on to something. Elsie, who looks after the milkmaids at Breadstone Farm said something to me today that has given me a lead and I will waste no time in testing her theory.

                              [There’s a knock at the door]

 

Catherine:            Are we expecting someone?

 

Jenner:                 Not that I know of.

 

Catherine:            I’ll go.

                              [she exists and returns with Reverend Augustus and Doctor Robert Hardcastle].

 

Jenner:                 Reverend, a most pleasant surprise.

 

Reverend:            Edward, allow me to introduce you to Doctor Robert Hardcastle.

 

Jenner:                 Sir, this is indeed a great pleasure. I am a huge admirer of your work in our fight against smallpox.

 

Hardcastle:          And I of your work, sir. The pleasure is entirely mine.

 

Catherine:            [Turning to the Reverend] May I offer you some tea?

 

Reverend:            Have you something a little stronger perhaps?

 

Catherine:            Eh, yes, of course. Coffee?

 

Reverend:            A little stronger?

 

Catherine:            Cognac?

 

Reverend:            Wonderful.

 

Catherine:            Tea, Doctor Hardcastle?

 

Hardcastle:          Sounds delightful, thank you. [He turns his attention to Jenner]. Edward, [he pauses] you don’t mind if I call you Edward?

 

Jenner:                 Please, do.

 

Hardcastle:          I am well aware that this is a high-risk area at present in view of the increased number of cases of smallpox so there is a relative increase in the number of families seeking variolation. You are aware of my work with variolation?

 

Jenner:                 Indeed I am, sir.

 

Hardcastle:          The concern that I have is that many see it is a full-proof cure. They seem impervious to the risks, although the risks are much reduced through my work and research.

 

Catherine:            [Appears puzzled] Variolation?

 

Reverend:            It’s called messing with nature, Catherine, something these confounded medical people are hell-bent on practising without a thought for God’s will.

 

Hardcastle:          Oh come, Augsutus, how many times have we had this same conversation? It is surely God’s will that we use the skills that he has provided for us to better the chances of survival of so many people.

 

Reverend:            And if that is contrary to God’s will, what then?

 

Hardcastle:          If it is contrary to God’s will, Augustus, then we will surely make no progress. But we are making progress: great progress, and if Edward and I join forces we will surely defeat this disease.

 

Reverend:            But you’ve said already that what you are doing, by way of practising variolation, offers no guarantee of a cure.

 

Jenner:                 Since the advent of modern medicine, Augustus, there has never been a guarantee of a full-proof cure for any disease.

 

Catherine:            Would someone please explain what variolation is.

 

Hardcastle:          Of course. In the case of smallpox we take a little of the pus from the sores of someone with the disease and transfer it into someone without the disease, by way of a simple cut on the arm.

 

Catherine:            That’s not medicine, that’s murder!       

 

Reverend:            Precisely! Playing God!

 

Hardcastle:          When a very mild form of the disease is introduced to the healthy person, their blood recognises that there is a dangerous intruder in the body and sets out to produce antibodies to defeat the intruder. It means that should the person be exposed to the more aggressive form of the disease they’ll be protected. The body’s antibodies will be waiting for them like a formidable army and will shatter the intruders.

 

Jenner:                 And that, my dear, is variolation, in a nutshell.

 

Catherine:            Forgive me, but it sounds monstrous.

                              [There’s another knock at the door]

 

Jenner:                 Catherine would you see who it is please?

                              [Catherine exits]

 

Reverend:            So can you both see the objections of many of us in the church who see this kind of medical experimentation as an affront to God?

 

Jenner:                 Of course, we understand that view, Augustus.

 

Hardcastle:          Forgive me for labouring the point, but do you not see that we have an obligation to use the skills that God has provided to defeat this disease?

 

Reverend:            Disease is a natural part of life. Death is a natural part of life.

 

Hardcastle:          Of course it is, but its stampede though whole communities has more to do with the powers of darkness than with a merciful God.

 

Reverend:             [Pausing to consider the point] I don’t know, Robert, I’m not convinced.