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The hypothetical method is a process that involves four steps.

The steps are as follows:


first is to discover the occurrence of a problem and after which, then a hypothesis must be
developed to provide a possible explanation of said problem. After which, research must be
conducted in order to draw the implications from the hypothesis and finally there must be tests to
make sure that the implications of the hypothesis explains the occurrence of the problem in the
first place (Hurley). A classic example of this method is the study conducted by English
physician, Edward Jenner and his explanation of why cow herders and milk maids were not
affected by smallpox, a disease that ravaged the human population for many ages.
In 1765, John Fewster, an English surgeon, determined that cowpox has the ability to
prevent smallpox but he did not pursue the subject further. This was the hypothesis that was
adopted by Edward Jenner when he was conducting his research on why those who work with
cows do not get the disease. At the time, he knew that small pox was more dangerous than
variolation (innoculating patients with the disease as a method for resistance) and that cow pox
was less dangerous than variolation based on studies that were conducted before he began his
own research (Edward Jenner - Smallpox and the discovery of a vaccination). The one thing
that Edward Jenner did not know was why did people with cowpox not contract smallpox.
Edward Jenner adopted the hypothesis that cow pox gave immunity to small pox and
subsequently started to research methods on how to begin his tests. Noting that milkmaids were
immune to smallpox, Jenner believed that the pus from the cowpox blisters were similar to the
blisters received by those who contracted smallpox although it was much less potent and this
was what may have protected these men and women from smallpox. He made observations that
the blisters were similar in nature and also that the pus was nearly the same (Smallpox Zero).
Finally in 1796, Edward Jenner decided it was time to test his hypothesis and he did so
by scraping the pus off the blisters from the hand of a milkmaid by the name of Sarah Nelmes
who caught cowpox from a cow named Blossom. He decided to test this new vaccine of cowpox
on an eight year old boy by the name of James Phipps who was the son of his gardener. The
boy naturally fell ill and had a fever but he had not contracted a full infection from the vaccine.
Later on, the boy was inoculated with smallpox and he showed no signs of the disease. This test
was conduct again and once again the boy did not contract the disease (Smallpox Zero). This
test was conducted on 23 other people who also did not contract small pox and Jenners
hypothesis was declared a success.
This is a perfect example of how the hypothetical method worked in science as it was

Works Cited

Hurley, Patrick J. A Concise Introduction to Logic, 11th Edition. Wadsworth, Cengage


Learning. 2008. Print. 18 Nov 2013
Edward Jenner - Smallpox and the Discovery of Vaccination". Retrieved 18 Nov 2013
"Smallpox Zero". African Comic Production House, Johannesburg, South Africa. ISBN
978-0-620-43765-3.

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