On The Spreading And Prevention Of Smallpox In British North American Colonies

When new settlers set foot in the North American colonies,they had to not only face the harsh living environment,but also to deal with the invasion of varieties of European epidemics.Smallpox is one of the most important diseases that threaten the lives of people in the colonies.In the British North American colonies,smallpox virus arrived uninterruptedly due to persistent immigration and trade exchanges.It spreads widely and the number of outbreaks is frequent.Smallpox viruses spread from The New England in the north to The Virginia in the south.Especially in Boston,a large colonial city,smallpox outbreaks occurred more than a dozen times in half a century.To some extent,the whole process of colonization can be seen as the history of people's struggle against disease and death.Because of the relatively undeveloped medical treatment level in the early colonial period and the insufficient understanding of smallpox,it was difficult for people to effectively respond to and treat smallpox.As a result,American colonies(Indians and whites),especially the Indians,suffered heavy casualties,People are depressed and frightened.Serious smallpox also hampered the political and economic development of the city.The town's parliament is frequently blocked,and business activity is often stalled.The relationship between whites and Indians also became tense due to the outbreak of smallpox.With the progress of medical treatment and the enhancement of the understanding of the origin of disease,the level of smallpox prevention and control in British North American colonies has been continuously improved.Especially after inoculation appeared in colonies,the prevention and control of smallpox has changed from physical prevention and control such as quarantine and isolation to active medical vaccination.Although this technique is being criticized,and has aroused widespread concern in society,caused controversy in the three fields of science,medicine and religion in the colonies,and even caused social disturbances and riots in some places,it has been proved that variolization is an effective means to prevent and control smallpox.As a result,the mortality rate of the colonial population has greatly decreased.With the continuous improvement of modern scientific theory and the maturity of people's experience in the prevention and treatment of smallpox,the smallpox epidemic situation was basically controlled in the late colonial period with the joint efforts of people from all walks of life in the colonies.Smallpox vaccination was popularized in the American Revolutionary Army later.It can be said that the effective prevention and control of smallpox It can be said that the effective prevention and control of smallpox not only protected the public health of residents and the military,but also promoted social stability and contributed to the victory of the War of Independence.In the process of smallpox prevention and control,the preliminary disease prevention system and health system have Promoted the development of modern medical and health care in the United States.