aromanians and smallpox

Illyria (Balkans) Forums > Vlachs,Aromanians,Istriots,etc.. > aromanians and smallpox
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brain deficit Membrum Posts: 110 (12/30/05 11:48 am) Reply	aromanians and smallpox the aromanians of Greece had an ancient practice wich presumed the passing of a needle through the ear of a cow, and then, along side some incantations and spells, the needle was passed through the ear of a person. what they really did was the earliest uses of immunisation by inoculation. the cow smallpox is less potent than the deadly human smallpox. because of that, the body had the abilities to create antibodies, wich were also effective against the human smallpox. this practice started being used in Constantiopolis, were a large aromanian population existed. it was here were Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, in 1716, witnessed such practices. She was the wife of the english ambassador to Istambul. After returning to England, she introduced this practice there, and even the daughters of the Prince of Wales were innocualted in 1722. The custom then spread to France, Germany, etc.... Edited by: brain deficit at: 12/30/05 11:50 am

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