New World Diseases - Smallpox

Emilie,

Thanks for the information about your family. My aunt said my grandfather, who
lived in Herreras, Durango, had smallpox as a toddler. I always thought the
story was not true and figured the family had confused smallpox with measles or
chickenpox. After reading your post, I did some research and was shocked to
learn the disease was definitely around in the early 1900's. Unfortunately,
while researching on the Internet, I came across many photos of victims and it
made me extremely sad. There are drawings in the Florentine Codex of smallpox
victims, and I always thought the artist had exaggerated how much of the body
was covered by sores. I was wrong. I ask forgiveness from the Aztec artist for
doubting the accuracy of those drawings.

Alice