Fearful citizens attacked Dr. John M. Shawg of Lancaster on Jan. 29, 1810, for vaccinating his children against smallpox.
At a time when patients regularly were stuck with poultices and plasters or bled of ill humors, the idea of inoculating a child with a mild disease -- cow pox -- to protect against deadly smallpox was viewed with suspicion on the Ohio frontier.
Most of the community, perhaps mindful of an earlier smallpox outbreak in Marietta, supported the doctor. Five men, though, fired though Shawg's window and broke down his door.
In a report to Gov. Samuel Huntington, citizens reported:
''Jonathan Lynch Took Hold of the wife of Shawg Pulling her about & hauled her out of the house & pushed her with the rifle gun removed her with three children 2 or 3 miles into the country in a could cabin.
''Took hold of Doct Shawg squeezed & Pullet him about his back very much hurt & has received a Rupture.''
The citizens asked Huntington to restore peace and give Shawg a ''Permit to inoculate the small pox the subscribers famelis for the benefit & safety of them.''
Source: The History of the State of Ohio, Vol. II, by Carl F. Wittke