What gamble does Washington take to save his men from small pocks?

To save his men from smallpox, George Washington took the gamble of implementing an early form of vaccination known as variolation. He ordered his troops to be deliberately infected with a mild strain of the virus, which would help them build immunity to the more severe form of the disease. This risky decision aimed to protect his army from potential outbreaks, ultimately improving their chances of survival and effectiveness during the Revolutionary War. Washington's proactive approach significantly reduced smallpox-related casualties among his troops.