variolation

variolation

      obsolete method of immunizing patients against smallpox by infecting them with substance from the pustules of patients with a mild form of the disease (variola minor). The disease then usually occurs in a less-dangerous form than when contracted naturally. The method was popularized in England in 1721–22 by Lady Mary Wortley Montagu; (Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley) it has long been known by the Turks, Chinese, and other peoples. In America, Cotton Mather (Mather, Cotton) learned of its use in Africa from his slave, Onesimus, who himself had been inoculated. Its use spread in America after 1721, and in 1728 it was introduced into South America. Variolation continued to be opposed by some religious groups and most physicians, who were not convinced of the safety of the method. It was supplanted by vaccination after 1798. In 1842 an act of Parliament in England made the practice of variolation a felony in that country.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Variolation — Va ri*o*la tion, n. (Med.) Inoculation with smallpox. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Variolation — (Variolisation, lat.), Einimpfung der Pocken …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Variolation — (neulat.), Einimpfung der Menschenblattern zum Schutze gegen die Pocken, vor Einführung der Kuhpockenimpfung durch Jenner häufig angewendet …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Variolation — Die Variolation (auch veraltet Inoculierung) ist eine alte Technik zur Immunisierung von meist Menschen gegen Viruserkrankungen, die bis ins 18. Jahrhundert vor allem in China, aber auch im Nahen Osten eingesetzt wurde. Hierbei wurden… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • variolation — The obsolete process of inoculating a susceptible person with material from a vesicle of a patient with smallpox. SYN: variolization. * * * var·i·o·la·tion .var ē ə lā shən n the deliberate inoculation of an uninfected person with the smallpox… …   Medical dictionary

  • variolation — noun The inoculation of a person with smallpox so as to induce a mild form of the illness and subsequent immunity to it …   Wiktionary

  • Variolation — Va|ri|o|la|ti|on 〈[va ] f. 20〉 Impfung gegen Pocken * * * Va|ri|o|la|ti|on, die; , en (Med. früher): Pockenschutzimpfung …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Variolation — Va|ri|o|la|ti|on 〈[va ] f.; Gen.: , Pl.: en; Med.〉 Impfung gegen Pocken …   Lexikalische Deutsches Wörterbuch

  • Variolation — Va|rio|la|ti|on die; , en <zu ↑...ation> altind. Methode der aktiven Pockenimmunisierung durch Einritzen der Haut u. Auflegen von Grind eines abheilenden leichten Pockenfalles (Med.) …   Das große Fremdwörterbuch

  • variolation — var·i·o·la·tion …   English syllables

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