The Horrible History of Smallpox
Smallpox is an infectious disease carried by the bacteria from the nose and throat and can be spread by bodily fluids, particles from the nasal area or in this case on infected particles in blankets and clothing. Patients can easily infect others at a rapid rate and can suffer from blindness, joint and bone infections, and other fatal symptoms all usually resulting in death. With no immunity to western diseases First Nations of Canada’s West Coast were wiped out in the masses with the white man’s discovery of Canada.
In 1862, Brother Jonathan, a steam boat from san francisco arrived with the port of Vancouver island. On board was over 300 colonizers with a goal to pan for gold and join the fur trade in hopes to get big in the new colony of Victoria. As well as its passengers Brother Jonathan also brought over food , supplies, goods to trade and western diseases like smallpox. In this case the spread of disease was unintentional and according to the Colonist, if the correct measures were taken “we fear that a serious evil will be entailed on the country.” After the lack of quarantine for the diseased subject there was soon a smallpox epidemic. Native camps were burned to the ground, canoes were destroyed while smallpox infected natives fled the land in hope for safety. Over 30,000 Canadian Native Americans died that year in cause of smallpox and the panicked settlers of victoria.
Sources: