Onesimus, a Slave and the Practice of Inoculation

Black History Blog Learning Together Jaden's Freedom Art

LEARNING TOGETHER: The Story of America

In 1721, a massive outbreak of smallpox ravaged Boston, Massachusetts. Onesimus, a slave, told his slave master, Cotton Mather, about the practice of inoculation which had been used in Africa for years to stop diseases from spreading. Mather shared this information with the medical community, reluctantly they began to vaccinate the town folks. This new treatment reduced the death rate from smallpox.

                                           OUR HISTORY MATTERS

#8

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.