Chapter 36

In Qinghe Town and the surrounding villages, chickenpox and pox and rash had broken out simultaneously. An official document had been issued by the yamen ordering the arrest of everyone showing signs of pox and rash. Naturally, this would result in mild chickenpox patients contracting the far more severe smallpox through contact with the pox and rash sufferers. It seemed the situation outside had escalated to a critical stage. Unable to stop the epidemic from spreading further, the authorities had resorted to rooting out the problem entirely.