#25: Vaccine — Named After the Cow That Saved Millions of Lives episode artwork

EPISODE · May 8, 2026 · 1 MIN

#25: Vaccine — Named After the Cow That Saved Millions of Lives

from The Why of Words

Discover why vaccines are named after cow pus. In 1796, English doctor Edward Jenner noticed milkmaids who caught cowpox never developed smallpox, leading to the first vaccine. The word's Latin roots literally mean 'of or relating to cows'—a fitting tribute to bovine biology's role in medical history.---More from Sticky Note Podcasts:Deep in the Stacks (daily jazz vinyl) | Required Drinking (cocktail history) | Photography Knowledge (daily photo tips)stickynotepodcasts.com

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 8, 2026

Embed this episode

The surprising origin of 'vaccine' traced back to cows and Edward Jenner's breakthrough discovery

Distinct summary based on available episode metadata or transcript content.

Ready to play

#25: Vaccine — Named After the Cow That Saved Millions of Lives

0:00 1:50

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Why of Words?

This episode is 1 minute long.

When was this The Why of Words episode published?

This episode was published on May 8, 2026.

Can I download this The Why of Words episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!