Smallpox Epidemics
Smallpox Epidemics
Lexi Gagne
April 17, 2013
Dr. Stinson
The smallpox disease was a significant life threatening disease that lasted for centuries. Changing the world countries at a time, smallpox is one of the top deadliest diseases known to man. It is estimated that it began when humans started gathering in communities and traveling around six thousand years ago (Geddes 152). Until around 30 years ago, people were still living in fear of this awful disease (Geddes 157). Knowledge of the smallpox disease, the worldwide spread, variolation and Edward Jenner, complications of the final smallpox epidemic in Boston, Massachusetts, and the most recent smallpox incidents, assist in understanding the worldwide …show more content…
There are not reliable sources for credible accounts of history until the Egyptian mummy age. Mummies have been found to have possible scars related to smallpox. It is estimated that the virus was transferred to India by water or land from ancient Egyptian merchants. The next country infected by these southwestern countries was China in 1122 BC. In the sixth century Japan was infected by China. During the fifth and seventh centuries, as Europe’s population increased, along with the movement of the population, they too acquired the pox virus. The Caribbean was infected when the European settlers began exploration and colonization and the Spanish army entered. Spanish armies passed the virus to Peru and Brazil. European settlers and explorers along the east coast, infecting the Native Americans, also infected North America. Mexico was infected from the passing of the disease throughout the Indians and other travelers. Obvious interpretation tells one that most countries worldwide were infected with the crucial life threatening smallpox virus. By the eighteenth century everywhere in the world was infected, except Australia. In the nineteenth century variola minor appeared in the Americas as well as South Africa (Geddes …show more content…
Durgin in November, 1901 was given to the leading adult anti-vaccinationists to allow people to show sincerity in their beliefs of faith by undergoing exposure to smallpox without vaccination. Dr. Immanuel Pfieffer, a Danish immigrant who was not vaccinated since infancy, took the offer. After interacting with one hundred patients and smelling their breathes at the Gallop smallpox hospital on January 23, 1902 he was found significantly ill in his home on February 8, 1901. Dr. Durgin proved his theories and made headlines reflecting his successful experiment (Albert 3).
The epidemic ended in March, 1903. From the time of the closure of the epidemic until the last case occurrence for a significant amount of time in October 1932, there were only one hundred and eight cases of smallpox with 4 deaths. Controversy of compulsory vaccination still continued in courts with no alterations (Albert
Lexi Gagne
April 17, 2013
Dr. Stinson
The smallpox disease was a significant life threatening disease that lasted for centuries. Changing the world countries at a time, smallpox is one of the top deadliest diseases known to man. It is estimated that it began when humans started gathering in communities and traveling around six thousand years ago (Geddes 152). Until around 30 years ago, people were still living in fear of this awful disease (Geddes 157). Knowledge of the smallpox disease, the worldwide spread, variolation and Edward Jenner, complications of the final smallpox epidemic in Boston, Massachusetts, and the most recent smallpox incidents, assist in understanding the worldwide …show more content…
There are not reliable sources for credible accounts of history until the Egyptian mummy age. Mummies have been found to have possible scars related to smallpox. It is estimated that the virus was transferred to India by water or land from ancient Egyptian merchants. The next country infected by these southwestern countries was China in 1122 BC. In the sixth century Japan was infected by China. During the fifth and seventh centuries, as Europe’s population increased, along with the movement of the population, they too acquired the pox virus. The Caribbean was infected when the European settlers began exploration and colonization and the Spanish army entered. Spanish armies passed the virus to Peru and Brazil. European settlers and explorers along the east coast, infecting the Native Americans, also infected North America. Mexico was infected from the passing of the disease throughout the Indians and other travelers. Obvious interpretation tells one that most countries worldwide were infected with the crucial life threatening smallpox virus. By the eighteenth century everywhere in the world was infected, except Australia. In the nineteenth century variola minor appeared in the Americas as well as South Africa (Geddes …show more content…
Durgin in November, 1901 was given to the leading adult anti-vaccinationists to allow people to show sincerity in their beliefs of faith by undergoing exposure to smallpox without vaccination. Dr. Immanuel Pfieffer, a Danish immigrant who was not vaccinated since infancy, took the offer. After interacting with one hundred patients and smelling their breathes at the Gallop smallpox hospital on January 23, 1902 he was found significantly ill in his home on February 8, 1901. Dr. Durgin proved his theories and made headlines reflecting his successful experiment (Albert 3).
The epidemic ended in March, 1903. From the time of the closure of the epidemic until the last case occurrence for a significant amount of time in October 1932, there were only one hundred and eight cases of smallpox with 4 deaths. Controversy of compulsory vaccination still continued in courts with no alterations (Albert