In this Flashcard Friday follow-up to Tuesday's interview with Dr. Kanisorn Wongsrichanalai of the Massachusetts Historical Society, we revisit the numbers that changed the course of history. During the Revolutionary War, smallpox was more dangerous to the Continental Army than the British. By comparing mortality rates, George Washington made a bold, science-driven choice: inoculate his troops. The math was simple but profound, 30% risk of death without inoculation versus just 2% with it. This decision helped save the Revolution.
In this episode, we reiterate Dr. Wongsrichanalai's quote: "do the math, believe the science, and learn your history." From spotting misleading anecdotes to recognizing reliable sources, and from Washington's decision to Edward Jenner's breakthrough, today's lesson is that evidence and history are our best guides when confronting fear and misinformation.
Three Things You'll Learn
- How arithmetic saved an army — Why the difference between 30% and 2% mortality mattered more than opinions.
- How to vet science today — Which sources are reliable and why consensus matters more than a single flashy headline.
- What history teaches us about vaccines — From smallpox inoculation to global eradication, the past shows us how trust in evidence safeguards survival.
Resources Mentioned
- Massachusetts Historical Society
- World Health Organization (WHO)
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)
- Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Explore more on our website: mathsciencehistory.com
To buy my book Hypatia: The Sum of Her Life on Amazon, visit https://a.co/d/g3OuP9h
Let's Connect!
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mathsciencehistory.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/math.science.history
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