What is the purpose of inoculation?

Inoculation serves the purpose of introducing a small dose of pathogens, such as viruses or bacteria, into the body to stimulate an immune response. This controlled exposure is designed to help the immune system recognize and fight off the actual pathogens if encountered in the future, thereby building immunity. This principle is foundational in vaccination strategies, where a weakened or inactive form of a virus prompts the creation of antibodies and memory cells, equipping the immune system to respond more effectively during subsequent exposures.

The other options denote different medical concepts. For instance, treating existing diseases typically involves therapeutic interventions rather than inoculation, which is preventative in nature. The removal of toxins from the body relates to detoxification processes rather than inoculation, and disrupting disease transmission involves public health measures that may not necessarily include the practice of inoculation itself. Thus, the primary role of inoculation is to confer immunity through this specific method of controlled exposure.