Edited by Gerald Boerner
Commentary
We address a topic that is a little different today. In stead of exploring great moments in politics or history, we take a look at the eradication (elimination) of one of mankind’s most dreaded diseases — SMALLPOX. This scourge has been with us since the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs. It is the disease carried by the European explorers on their voyages of discovery. Who knows for sure how many native (“first nation”) inhabitants of the non-Mediterranean/Northern European world was “wiped out” by this disease?
By the topic’s medical nature, this posting will have some more technical sections. We have attempted to minimize these and maintain a readable piece. At the same time, some of this provides important background information, so it was included. For instance, we find this disease called “small pox” to contrast it to the “great pox”, syphilis! Also,we have tried to minimize the use of too many photos of infected individuals; smallpox is a horrible, disfiguring disease that covers most of the body instead of just the torso like chicken pox does.
Medical science has been addressing this disease for a couple hundred years. But since its formation the World Health Organization (WHO), a part of the United Nations, has campaigned against this disease, especially in the so-called “third world”, undeveloped countries. In 1979 they were able to declare smallpox eradicated.
So, let’s continue our exploration of this topic… GLB
These Introductory Comments are copyrighted:
Copyright©2010 — Gerald Boerner — All Rights Reserved[ 3963 Words ]
Quotations Related to SMALLPOX
“I was nauseous and tingly all over. I was either in love or I had smallpox.”
— Woody Allen
“I hope that some day the practice of producing cowpox in human beings will spread over the world – when that day comes, there will be no more smallpox.”
— Edward Jenner
“Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can’t mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has.”
— William S. Burroughs