The Analysis of Inoculation: Comprizing the History, Theory and Practice of it

The Analysis Of Inoculation: Comprizing The History, Theory And Practice Of It by James Kirkpatrick is an 18th-century treatise that assembles history, theory, and practice of inoculation against smallpox. Kirkpatrick surveys the origins and diffusion of variolous contagion, the alleged external and internal sources of infection, and the purported mechanisms by which inoculation could blunt disease. The work interweaves religious controversy, medical argument, and experimental evidence from Constantinople, New England, Carolina, and Britain, aiming to reconcile public health benefits with moral and theological concerns. It contains a thorough description of inoculation methods, preparation, subject selection by age and season, and the management of symptoms, including nervous and inflammatory forms of illness. The author discusses the social, economic, and ethical dimensions of dissemination, criticizes opposition as unfounded, and argues for careful regulation and wider adoption as a rational defense against mortality from smallpox. The volume also reflects the era’s debates over science, risk, and providence in public health.