Smallpox

a highly contagious disease. Its nature is not positively known, but there is a strong suspicion among specialists that it is due to the presence of minute animals of the protozoan order. Whatever the exact cause may be, it lurks in filth and clothing for months and years. Smallpox is one of the most widely distributed diseases. It follows man from the equator to the Arctic Circle, and seems to be independent of season, climate, or weather. Smallpox epidemics city as in the country. The pure air of a mountain top seems to afford no greater security than the slums of a seaboard town.

The course of smallpox is marked by several fairly well defined stages. No signs are noticeable during the first twelve or fourteen days after exposure to contagion. The first symptoms, lasting from two to four days, are a chill, an aching back, and high fever. During the third stage, which lasts about five days, small red spots appear on the forehead, wrists, and hands. These are followed by pimple-like blisters on various parts of the body, and are accompanied by ulcers in the mouth. In about ten days the pustules begin to dry up, leaving small crater-like pits or pocks, whence the name of the disease. When a number of these pits occur so closely together as to run into each other, they form scars. Smallpox is considered a dangerous disease. About one case out of three or four proves fatal.

Smallpox is related closely to cowpox, and may be merely a more virulent form of that disease. Its origin is unknown. It is believed to have existed in Greece, 430 B. C. The earliest descriptions sufficiently definite to be recognized are those left by Arabic physicians about the end of the ninth century. During the Middle Ages smallpox was prevalent throughout Europe. Its introduction into America dates from 1507, only about fifteen years after the discovery. The world's record of deaths from this disease is appalling. In 1517 Santo Domingo was almost depopulated. In 1520, 3,500,-000 deaths occurred in Mexico. In 1770, 3,000,000 people are supposed to have died from smallpox in India. As late as 1856 the disease was epidemic in the villages of Russia, in many cases carrying away four people out of every five. Russian records show that that country lost over 10,000,000 people from this disease between 1800 and 1871.

For some account of a new treatment for this disease, see the article on FINSEN, and for means of prevention, consult article on VACCINATION.