When an epidemic like smallpox takes route and begins to spread, the population attempts to understand why it is spreading and how they can prevent it. Often unable to answer the first question, people turn to homemade remedies and treatments.
During the spread of smallpox, people attempted a variety of methods to prevent the spread of the disease including bloodletting and leeching, thinking that they could target blood removal as a way to eradicate the DNA virus . They also used methods of fasting, laxatives, purgatives and diuretics to rid the body of the disease. They even attempted heat and cold treatment therapies – anything they thought that could help treat the unfortunate disease that attacked the DNA and manifested itself in the skin.
On a spiritual level, most epidemics are thought to be curses from the gods, and smallpox was no exception. Many religions, like Hinduism, and in Chinese traditions there were specific smallpox gods that people would worship, honor, and try to appease in an attempt to prevent the spread of disease. This was one way in which disease had a significant impact on the religion and culture of the time.
Besides the home remedies and religious attempts, there were actual scientific advancements made in the development of treatments and vaccinations. Jenner lead this movement in 1796 as he started the process of inoculation and vaccination. Inoculation began with a test that hypothesized that there was a link between smallpox and cowpox. Jenner hypothesized that vaccinating with cowpox, or vaccinia, would prevent an individual from contracting smallpox. This test was administered and paired with practices of surveillance, advancing Jenner’s impact on disease treatment. Although there was a fear and stigma surrounding this initially, it decreased enough that many people participated in the process, including members of royal families and large numbers major US cities. The vaccination created a small, yet identifiable mark. The fact that it could be easily hidden, however, and was highly publicized as being a good thing, made the majority of the population willing to get the vaccination and made considerable improvements in disease control.
Although there were issues with the mass vaccination that followed the development of such test, such as the lack of refrigeration that left a large number of vaccines impotent after being exposed to heat or sunlight, the overall process and implementation was successful. It allowed several countries and even continents to reach the status of being considered smallpox free. To this day, although we are not dealing with any major outbreaks, the United States is prepared for such. Currently, and stored throughout the country, are enough vaccinations for everyone in America. This displays how serious the government considers this disease in that it is prepared to take control and implement preventative measures should it arise again.
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