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I find this, 1806 letter from Thomas Jefferson to Edward Jenner, so moving 🥺

(Also love the line about William Harvey's discovery of blood circulation and the idea that that knowledge was not practically useful.. kinda hilarious in retrospect)

Another example of contemporaries being bad at predicting what's going to be useful in the future

Fondly imagining him saying 'The heart pumps blood around the body.. SO WHAT?!'

eh, he was also, as personal physician to the King, the guy they asked to personally physically inspect those charged with witchcraft