A fatal case of confluent smallpox From Thomas Francis Ricketts, The Diagnosis of Smallpox (1908)

 

Confluent Smallpox

"Common" smallpox, also known as "discrete" or "distinct" smallpox was bad enough, but there were even worse forms, though they were rarer.

In Confluent Smallpox, the pustules grew so thick that they ran together into one massive sore.
· The skin pulled so tight due to the swelling infection that victims were said to look unnaturally old or young.
· Some were said to look as if they'd been wrapped in a tight gray caul.

Lady Mary, who was said to be "exceedingly full," probably suffered through confluent smallpox.