inoculate.. carries the word oculus-- or eye! No it wasn't from things being put in the eye

Actually I thought it was _exactly_ that. The first "inoculations" against smallpox were supposed to have been performed by dropping the fluid from cowpox lesions into the lower sac/eyelid of the recipient.

Could be I'm mistaken, though, and it wouldn't be the first time....
{See http://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=wordplay&Number=51489.)
At least I'm consistent :-)