It was the Age of Reason, a time of Enlightenment, and a Golden Age of Science – and King Louis XVI of France was here for all of it. 

The young king’s father, Louis the XV, had recently died after smallpox swept through the golden halls of Versailles. Fifty people were infected, eleven (including Louis XV) died.

Smallpox was disfiguring and deadly, and greatly feared. The only prevention was a medical treatment called “inoculation.” Inoculation was popular in most of Europe and in the Middle East, but the French were holdouts.

Inoculation meant taking pus from an actual smallpox lesion and injecting it under the skin of a healthy patient. Ideally, the patient would develop a few smallpox blisters, feel crummy for a few days, and recover with full immunity to smallpox.

The procedure came with risk – a few inoculated patients contracted smallpox, but not at the 30% fatality rate of a full-blown infection. 

But Louis XVI was on Team Science, and he wanted to encourage his people to do the same.

The king, along with his two brothers and a sister-in-law underwent inoculation. In other words, the entire line of succession.

Daily health bulletins were publicly posted, documenting the King’s inoculation experience:

“The king had a good night. Fever continues and is moderate. Local smallpox.”

“The king had slightly more fever with slight nausea. The king, as well as the princes and princess, continue to walk in the gardens.”

The reports continued for three more days, until the king was fever-free and the blisters dried out. 

The king’s example made an impact. The people took up the banner and fashionable ladies sported pink-spotted “inoculation ribbons” pinned to their hats.

Oh, for a time when heads of state encouraged science and public health. Oh, for a time when leaders led by example.

Our leaders continue to downplay the surging measles outbreak – 500 cases in Texas alone. Yet, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has yet to say the words “vaccination” or “measles” in his responses to the ever-growing and spreading outbreak.

A Texas state representative recently filed a bill eliminating vaccination requirements for public school children. 

At the national level, our leaders recently cut funding and personnel supporting vaccination for uninsured children through a network of sixty providers.

In Dallas County, cuts meant the cancellation of 50 community vaccination events – many in areas with low vaccination rates.

“It’s catastrophic,” said Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers.

And while we’re cutting funding for vaccinations, our national leaders decided to fund new “research” looking at autism and the MMR vaccine, despite six decades of evidence that childhood vaccines are safe and effective. 

Louis XVI eventually lost his head in the bloody French Revolution, taking the fall for the excesses of his father and grandfather, but he stood up for what was right and true in science. 

Oh, for leaders who stand up for science.

Oh, for leaders who stand up for public health.