The Enlightenment significantly advanced medical science and public health through its emphasis on reason, observation, and empirical evidence. Thinkers like Hippocrates and later Edward Jenner pioneered methods that fostered a scientific approach to disease and treatment. The introduction of vaccination, notably smallpox vaccination, emerged as a breakthrough that drastically reduced mortality rates. Enlightenment ideals challenged traditional medical doctrines, promoting a more systematic understanding of health. Additionally, the focus on hygiene and s sanitation contributed to improved public health policies and the establishment of hospitals, transforming societal responses to health crises.