Dr. James Latham (c. 1734-1799): Pioneer inoculator in Canada

Dr. James Latham, British military surgeon and inoculator, was the first known person to have practised inoculation for smallpox in Canada. He came to Canada with his regiment in July 1768 and undertook inoculation in Quebec and Montreal in the years 1768–70 and again in 1786. His efforts were recorded in the Québec Gazette and have been liberally quoted by various authorities on the history of medicine in Canada. But to date little has been known of his life or subsequent career. Recent work has re-assessed the role of inoculation in reducing the incidence of smallpox in the 18th century. In an age where smallpox was considerable inevitable, inoculation with live smallpox matter could reduce the mortality from the disease from one in six deaths from natural smallpox to one in fifty deaths for those inoculated.