Inoculation
the act, art or operation of communicating a disease to the bodily frame by introducing, by punctures in the skin, or otherwise, the specific poison by which it is produced; also the introduction in such a manner of variolous matter into the system. It is to Constantinople that the world is indebted for the discovery. In 1713 Dr. Emanuel Timoni, a Greek physician there, wrote a letter to Dr. Woodward in favor of inoculation, which was published in the "Philosophical Transactions." The actual introduction of the practice into England was brought about by a letter written in a lively style from Turkey in 1717, by Lady Mary Wortley Montague. Gradually it made way, and was firmly established by 1798 in which year Dr. Jenner announced the discovery of vaccination. Before this, the improved methods introduced by Daniel and Robert Sutton had reduced the mortality, which, in 1797, 1798, and 1799, in the smallpox hospitals was only 1 in 662. Inoculation for smallpox is performed by applying the variolous matter to a few scratches made upon the skin.
It communicates actual variola, which, however, as a rule, is of a mild type, but acts as an excellent prophylactic against a malady of more virulent character.