#smallpox
Peter II of Russia on his deathbed
“Showing numerous incipient papules upon the face. Those upon the forehead were the first to appear and are most prominent. the cheeks present a characteristic leathery appearance.”
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
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“A case of moderate severity, with well-developed vesicles and characteristic grouping of lesions upon the face.”
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
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“Showing upon the face and cheeks a form of the disease commonly known as ‘black smallpox.’ (…) The swelling and disfigurement of the face present a most striking appearance.”
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
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“Showing a few thick crusts remaining upon the face with numerous dull red spots from which the crusts have fallen.”
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
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“These illustrations show a partly confluent character which the eruption frequently presents, even in mild cases, and especially upon the legs. The influence of pressure in developing a more profuse eruption may be noted above the ankles, where shoes were laced, and below the knees, where garters were worn.”
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
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“These illustrations show the pustular lesions in the stages of complete distention when they present a rounded appearance, and of incipient desiccation, when they appear flattened and with a central depression or ‘secondary umbilication.’”
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
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“This shows the earliest eruption upon back and buttocks. The photograph was taken about seven hours after its first appearance. The patient was sent to Riverside Hospital where she developed hemorrhagic smallpox, and died on the fourth day.”
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
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“Fig. 3 shows severe pitting, a partial loss of hair and eyebrows, and destruction of one eye.”
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
Healing after smallpox was a slow process. Victims were often unrecognizable to those who knew them before the illness.
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“Fig. 1 shows umbilicated pustules with an intense edema of the foot, considerably increasing in its size and causing much pain. Fig. 2 shows the epidermis raised in a large, irregular patch by the confluence of pustules.”
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
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“Figs. 1 and 3 show the dried pustules remaining in the thickened skin of palm and sole after the crusts have fallen elsewhere. Fig. 2 shows the superficial desquamation which follows the falling of the crusts, producing rings of partly detached epidermis.“
A Practical Treatise on Smallpox by George Henry Fox, 1903
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The face and feet of a man with smallpox at the El Kettar Civilian Hospital, Algiers, during World War II
He got off somewhat lucky in that his case doesn’t look to be confluent. I think this would be the discrete form.
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1818221, acrylic on canvas, December 2018
Images of Henry Bedson and Janet Parker. Parker was the last person to contract smallpox and the poor safety practices of Bedson’s smallpox lab were responsible for her catching the disease. Bedson committed suicide shortly before Janet died.
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Did you know that Boston successfully fought a smallpox epidemic in 1871?
On this day in 1871, Boston’s City Physician sent this letter to the Board of Aldermen. He wrote, “While some of the neighboring towns have suffered greatly….Boston has has been peculiarly fortunate."
Boston’s fortune may not have been that peculiar though! In the same letter, the City Physician wrote that the city’s "exemption from this disease is due in great measure to the precautionary means which have hitherto been taken in the way of vaccination." Boston beat back smallpox by following the guidance of its public health officials.
Almost 150 years later, Boston is fighting the Covid19 Pandemic by social distancing, wearing face coverings, and following other public health guidance - just like we did in 1871. Learn more about how you can prevent the spread of covid here
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Just a Poke: The Origins of Inoculation
The history of inoculation is a fascinating one. From ancient China and India to 18th-century Britain, inoculation methods have travelled far and wide to protect people from disease.
How African tribes saved the American Revolution: African slaves brought with them knowledge of tribal practices in fighting smallpox outbreaks – by piercing the skin of the health with infected pus. The adapted treatment was too expensive for most people, until George Washington ordered mass inoculation of his troops: the first ever public vaccination in America. The disease had been killing more soldiers than the British: thus, this knowledge may have made all the difference.
(Image credit to ABlogAboutHistory)
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