Revolution
Inoculation provided a safer way to defend oneself from smallpox by providing further immunity to the disease and limited physical damage.
Inoculated population of Boston of 1721
Non-inoculated population of Boston of 1721
"They all had Smallpox at the usual Time, and of the distinct Sort: Mr Dorr was full, his Pock inflam'd, and his Fever too high: This, with his great Concern for his children the continual Noise, the Want of Sleep, made the poor Gentleman almost distracted, which obliged me to bleed him twice, to apply Epispastics, use Anodines, Etc. at the turning of the Small-Pox Inoculated in New England."
- Doctor Zabdiel Boylston
- Doctor Zabdiel Boylston
- During the earlier inoculations, the technique had yet to be perfected
- Resulted in a few severe cases
- These cases were often used in an argument against inoculation
- Success rate of the vaccine was quite high considering its relative newness
- Graphs contain data gathered from post-epidemic Boston in 1721
- As shown, those who were inoculated had a much better chance of surviving than those who did not
- Most physicians of the time argued that it was better to remain unprotected
- They feared that the mild case of smallpox which follows an inoculation could trigger an epidemic among the non-inoculated population.
The pock marks remained close to the inoculation site and did not spread to the rest of the body.
With a regular case of smallpox your entire body is covered in pox marks.
The benefits of Inoculation:
The benefits of Inoculation:
- Less pock marks
- Easier case
- Provides immunity
This hand has been inoculated and has only one pock mark.
