smallpox. An especially repulsive and frightening disease, smallpox ravaged Canada from its introduction from Europe in the early 17th century. Lacking immunity, Native people in the St Lawrence Valley, and ultimately across the country, were heavily infected. Major epidemics occurred throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
In a crude attempt at germ warfare, the British military gave smallpox-contaminated blankets to Aboriginal opponents during the Pontiac Uprising in 1763 . The last serious epidemic occurred in Montreal in 1885 . The disease swept through the city, especially poor neighbourhoods, aided by a strident anti-vaccination campaign largely by francophone residents.
This issue, plus anger over the execution of Louis Riel , led to rioting that had to be put down by militia. Smallpox killed more than 3,000. Strict quarantine prevented the disease from spreading outside Montreal.
The smallpox virus is highly infectious. Although it is commonly conveyed by droplets spread by coughing or sneezing, the virus is sturdy and can be acquired by handling infected clothing and bedding. A victim develops fever, severe headache, extreme malaise, vomiting, and an often widespread rash of skin lesions filled with pus, which frequently left survivors with disfiguring facial scars.
The smallpox virus is highly infectious. Although it is commonly conveyed by droplets spread by coughing or sneezing, the virus is sturdy and can be acquired by handling infected clothing and bedding. A victim develops fever, severe headache, extreme malaise, vomiting, and an often widespread rash of skin lesions filled with pus, which frequently left survivors with disfiguring facial scars.
Even among European Canadians from areas where there was some acquired immunity, the death rate could reach 20 per cent; epidemics among members of the First Nations could kill as many as 90 per cent of patients.
Variolation was introduced into England from the Middle East early in the 1700s. Under this practice, a healthy person would be inoculated with smallpox pus in hopes of inducing a mild case of the disease, resulting in immunity to further attacks. The risk of serious disease in the patient, and its spread to others, made the process risky. Then, in 1798 , Dr Edward Jenner observed that milkmaids who developed cowpox from milking infected cows never had smallpox.
Variolation was introduced into England from the Middle East early in the 1700s. Under this practice, a healthy person would be inoculated with smallpox pus in hopes of inducing a mild case of the disease, resulting in immunity to further attacks. The risk of serious disease in the patient, and its spread to others, made the process risky. Then, in 1798 , Dr Edward Jenner observed that milkmaids who developed cowpox from milking infected cows never had smallpox.
He experimented with inoculating cowpox pus instead of smallpox pus—the procedure later called vaccination— and found that this much safer process still created immunity. The procedure was introduced into Canada early in the 1800s though use was at first sporadic.
After the world's most successful public health campaign, mass vaccination conducted by the World Health Organization, smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1979 . No case has occurred since. However, the threat of the disease being spread by terrorists has raised fears of recurrence in the 21st century.
Charles G. Roland
How to cite this entry:
Charles G. Roland "smallpox" The Oxford Companion to Canadian History. Ed. Gerald Hallowell. Oxford University Press, 2004. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. 4 November 2011
After the world's most successful public health campaign, mass vaccination conducted by the World Health Organization, smallpox was officially declared eradicated in 1979 . No case has occurred since. However, the threat of the disease being spread by terrorists has raised fears of recurrence in the 21st century.
Charles G. Roland
How to cite this entry:
Charles G. Roland "smallpox" The Oxford Companion to Canadian History. Ed. Gerald Hallowell. Oxford University Press, 2004. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. 4 November 2011
