Variola

{va-ri’ -o-lah) [varius, variegated, spotted]. Small-pox, a contagious infectious disease ushered in with severe febrile symptoms, which, in the course of two or three days, are followed by a papular eruption spreading over all parts of the body. During the succeeding two weeks the eruption pa es through the stage of vesicles and pustules, the latter going on to the formation of crusts. The falling off of the crusts leaves a pitted appearance of the skin (pockmarks). The period of incubation is about thirteen days. V. confluens, V., Confluent, a severe form, in which the pustules spread and run together. V., Discrete, a form in which the pustules preserve their distinct individuality. V., Hemorrhagic, small-pox in which hemorrhage occurs into the vesicles, which gives them a blackish appearance. V., Malignant, black smallpox, a severe and very fatal form of the hemorrhagic type. V., Mitigated, V., Modified. See Varioloid. Variolation, 651