Social distancing during a smallpox epidemic - pest houses

[jpak]

I never met my maternal grandfather - he died three weeks after I was born.

At age 4 he was orphaned.

At age six he contracted smallpox and was placed in a pest house - a wooden box set in a field that was just big enough for him to lie down in.

Poor little guy!

I can't imagine what he went through!

He had a blanket and they dropped off food and water every day.

But he was there to live or die.

He lived - and when he emerged, they burned the pest house, blankets, plates and all.

When I see stories about stupid people out partying or going to church - I think of the grandfather I never knew what he went through to survive that epidemic.

[uponit7771]

1. K&R