Dated medical term for the disease smallpox. In modern contexts, 天然痘 (てんねんとう) is more common.
See also: 天然痘
Smallpox was once a feared disease around the world.
smallpox vaccination
Historical term for inoculation against smallpox, now replaced by 種痘 (しゅとう) or ワクチン接種.
See also: 種痘
Smallpox vaccination began in the Edo period.
smallpox scars; pockmarks
Refers to the scars left on the skin after recovering from smallpox. Dated usage; modern descriptions might use あばた.
His face bore the scars of smallpox.
Standard kanji spelling for smallpox and related historical terms.
Kana spelling is acceptable, especially in modern contexts where the kanji may be unfamiliar.
The kanji 疱 (blister) and 瘡 (sore, boil) combine to describe the disease's characteristic skin lesions. The reading ほうそう is on'yomi. The term is now largely historical.