variolization Definition
- 1the process of inoculating a person with material taken from a patient with smallpox in order to confer immunity to the disease
- 2the process of inducing immunity to smallpox by injecting a person with material from a cowpox blister
Using variolization: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "variolization" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Edward Jenner is credited with developing the first successful method of variolization.
Example
Before the invention of the smallpox vaccine, variolization was a common practice in many parts of the world.
Example
The practice of variolization was eventually replaced by vaccination, which is a safer and more effective method of preventing smallpox.
Origins of variolization
from variola, the Latin word for smallpox
Summary: variolization in Brief
Variolization [vair-ee-uh-luh-zey-shuhn] is the process of inoculating a person with material taken from a patient with smallpox or cowpox blister to confer immunity to smallpox. It was a common practice before the invention of the smallpox vaccine and was eventually replaced by vaccination, which is a safer and more effective method of preventing smallpox.