ScienceEurope

Smallpox inoculation

May 27, 1721

A practice from Turkey, China and Africa reaches Europe

In depth

An enslaved man named Onesimus described the same practice from West Africa to Cotton Mather in Boston, who used it during the outbreak of 1721. Jenner replaced the method with cowpox in 1796, which was far safer. Eradication was declared in 1980 after a global campaign, and is probably the single greatest achievement in public health.

For children

Deliberately giving someone a mild dose of smallpox to protect them was old practice in China, Turkey and parts of Africa. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu saw it in Istanbul and introduced it in England. Smallpox is today the only disease humanity has eradicated.

Connects to

Vaccines and antisepsisJul 2, 1885
The American population collapseJan 1, 1520 – Jan 1, 1600
The Ottoman empire at its heightJan 1, 1520 – Jan 1, 1566
The transatlantic slave tradeJan 1, 1526

Part of Terra Saga — the story of Earth on a timeline. terrasaga.org