#variola

Túmulo do Bexiguento - Tomb of the pox-ridden in Marcolino Moura, Rio de Contas, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brasil

No final do século 19 e início do século 20, os doentes com doenças infectocontagiosas eram obrigados a isolar-se dentro do mato para evitar o contágio dos demais. Um doente enterrava o outro.

1818221, acrylic on canvas, December 2018

Images of Henry Bedson and Janet Parker. Parker was the last person to contract smallpox and the poor safety practices of Bedson’s smallpox lab were responsible for her catching the disease. Bedson committed suicide shortly before Janet died.

“Showing upon the face and cheeks a form of the disease commonly known as ‘black smallpox.’ (...) The swelling and disfigurement of the face present a most striking appearance.”

“Showing a few thick crusts remaining upon the face with numerous dull red spots from which the crusts have fallen.”

“Figs. 1 and 3 show the dried pustules remaining in the thickened skin of palm and sole after the crusts have fallen elsewhere. Fig. 2 shows the superficial desquamation which follows the falling of the crusts, producing rings of partly detached epidermis.“

“Fig. 1 shows umbilicated pustules with an intense edema of the foot, considerably increasing in its size and causing much pain. Fig. 2 shows the epidermis raised in a large, irregular patch by the confluence of pustules.”