THE INVISIBLE ENEMY
A. An ancient and deadly enemy for almost 10,000 years, smallpox killed millions of human beings all over the world. During epidemics, from 50 to 60% of the population would contract the disease, and 20 to 30% of its victims would die.
B. In the 16th century, Spanish conquerors brought smallpox to the Americas, decimating most of the native populations because they had never been exposed to the disease before and had no immunity. More Native Americans died of smallpox than died in battle with white settlers. In the 18th century, the British deliberately infected Native Americans with smallpox during the French and Indian War. In London, death claimed 80% of the children under five years old who caught the disease; in Berlin, 98%. One-third of those who survived smallpox went blind. Spread by contact through the air, the disease ravaged every class of society. It caused a rash and blisters on the skin that left its survivors scarred for life. Queen Elizabeth I, Mozart, and George Washington all knew the suffering it brought.
C. Over the centuries, human beings gained knowledge of "the speckled monster." For one thing, they learned that survivors never caught the disease again. From this observation of natural immunity came the practice of variolation. Variolation probably began in China and India. In the early 18th century, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu observed its use in Turkey, where her husband was ambassador. She brought the practice to England in 1721. Through a small cut, the pus from a smallpox blister is placed under the skin. This causes a low-grade smallpox infection. If the disease does not develop any further, the
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SECTION 1 (Questions 1-2)
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