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115-year-old smallpox scabs found in library book
Univ of Central Fla school paper (The Future) ^

Posted on 01/07/2004 11:26:46 AM PST by Dixie Pirate

A librarian at College of Santa Fe Fogelson Library recently found a small, yellowed envelope tucked between the pages of an 1888 book on Civil War medicine. The envelope was labeled "scabs from vaccination of W.B. Yarrington's children." This inscription could only mean smallpox, a deadly infection that was eradicated a generation ago.

Although the live smallpox virus currently resides in two laboratories in the world, it is considered a potentially devastating weapon for bioterrorists. The envelope, now stored at a freezer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, could yield live smallpox. If a live virus is obtained, not only would scientists learn more about the plague, they also would gain insight into the evolution of smallpox vaccine in the United States.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: smallpox
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1 posted on 01/07/2004 11:26:46 AM PST by Dixie Pirate
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To: Dixie Pirate
That would be a lucky break.
2 posted on 01/07/2004 11:28:19 AM PST by Naspino (Exodus 22: 28 Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.)
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To: Dixie Pirate
Original thread.
3 posted on 01/07/2004 11:29:28 AM PST by TomServo ("She wouldn't have me on a silver platter." "How about on an air mattress slathered with butter?")
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To: Dixie Pirate
"115-year-old smallpox scabs "

?????? yuck
4 posted on 01/07/2004 11:30:44 AM PST by nuconvert ("This wasn't just plain terrible, this was fancy terrible. This was terrible with raisins in it.")
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To: Dixie Pirate
This points up the inadvisability of destruction of the laboratory samples - if viable virii are recovered from this then the possibility still exists, however remote, that this thing could still bite us in the future.
5 posted on 01/07/2004 11:32:12 AM PST by Billthedrill
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To: Dixie Pirate
I'd hate to be the person in 2119 who finds a stained fabric sample inside a 20st century book on the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal.
6 posted on 01/07/2004 11:33:33 AM PST by Rebelbase (Hey, LP Biker Bar folks...Get a life, become original and stop stealing posts from FR.)
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To: Dixie Pirate
e-w-w-w-w, groudy.
7 posted on 01/07/2004 11:34:18 AM PST by putupon (Smart Alec tagline about POTUS's illegal immigrant policy CENSORED by AdMod on 1-6-04)
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To: Dixie Pirate
Prior posts on this story:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1047484/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1053426/posts
8 posted on 01/07/2004 11:37:43 AM PST by Calpernia (Innocence seldom utters outraged shrieks. Guilt does.)
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To: TomServo

"Original thread."

Oops!!! Thanxxx!
9 posted on 01/07/2004 11:37:53 AM PST by Dixie Pirate
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To: Dixie Pirate
I've heard of saving a child's hair from the first haircut, but scabs from their first smallpox vaccine?
10 posted on 01/07/2004 11:38:23 AM PST by Born Conservative ("Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names" - John F. Kennedy)
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To: putupon
YUK!


11 posted on 01/07/2004 11:39:10 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I will defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Born Conservative
Should've saved my scabs!
(Wanna see my scar?)

12 posted on 01/07/2004 11:41:24 AM PST by evets
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To: Dixie Pirate
No "oops" about it. This ain't a dupe - just a different article. No biggie - no sweat.
13 posted on 01/07/2004 11:41:34 AM PST by TomServo ("She wouldn't have me on a silver platter." "How about on an air mattress slathered with butter?")
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To: Dixie Pirate
"scabs from vaccination of W.B. Yarrington's children"

Read the article, please.
If these scabs are from the vaccination of some kids then they will not cause the disease, but would provide immunity from the disease

14 posted on 01/07/2004 11:44:09 AM PST by curmudgeonII (Don't jounalists know anything about any thing?)
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To: Dixie Pirate
Thanks for the post - just in time for lunch.
15 posted on 01/07/2004 11:45:22 AM PST by ElkGroveDan (Fighting for Freedom and Having Fun)
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To: Dixie Pirate
And the little scab said.....
16 posted on 01/07/2004 11:47:08 AM PST by MaryFromMichigan (God mad us Freepers, Prozac made us friends)
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To: Dixie Pirate
I wonder if they are worth anything?

Maybe I should start saving my scabs and selling them on ebay.
17 posted on 01/07/2004 11:49:12 AM PST by 11th Earl of Mar
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To: nuconvert
I wonder if they were still crisp or if they got like old potato chips. I hate the way they taste when they lose their snap.
18 posted on 01/07/2004 11:51:00 AM PST by Protagoras (When they asked me what I thought of freedom in America,,, I said I thought it would be a good idea.)
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To: Rebelbase
This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where George takes a book into the bathroom.

After being forced to purchases it, since it is now 'marked,' he tries to return it. But everybook store in town has it flagged.
19 posted on 01/07/2004 11:51:59 AM PST by 11th Earl of Mar
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To: Protagoras
These are very good as a topper on a salad or baked potato.
20 posted on 01/07/2004 11:53:18 AM PST by Delbert
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