This work provides a well rounded history of official smallpox measures and their links with the development of public health in policies and programmes in Brititsh India. It examines vaccination policy and technology from a political, economic and technical perspective as well as the cultural and religious implications of medical intervention in smallpox eradication. There is an exposition of the complex and sometimes contradictory official and civilian attitudes toward the development of smallpox control and public health measures in India.
