Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SMALL-POX', n. [small and pox, pocks.]

An exanthematic disease, consisting of a constitutional febrile affection, and a cutaneous eruption. The cutaneous eruption is first a papule, the top of which becomes a vesicle, and then a pustule, and finally forms a thick crust which sloughs after a certain time, often leaving a pit or scar. This disease is propagated exclusively by contagion or infection, and is very dangerous when it occurs casually. It is called technically, Variola. It has several quite distinct varieties.