close
Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2000 Mar;11(2):112-5.
doi: 10.1155/2000/782978.

The first smallpox epidemic on the Canadian Plains: In the fur-traders' words

C S Houston  1 , S Houston
Affiliations

The first smallpox epidemic on the Canadian Plains: In the fur-traders' words

C S Houston et al. Can J Infect Dis. 2000 Mar.

Abstract

William Tomison, in charge of the Hudson's Bay Company's Cumberland House on the Saskatchewan River, described the devastating smallpox epidemic of 1781 and 1782. He understood contagion, practised isolation and disinfection, and provided mortality statistics during a 'virgin soil' epidemic. Above all, he showed remarkable compassion. He and his men took dying Indians into their already crowded quarters, and provided them with food, shelter and 24 h care. This article describes the epidemic and its aftermath.

Keywords: Cree Indians; Disease Outbreaks; Fur trade; Smallpox.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cumberland House a century later (1875)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. 1. Heagerty JJ. Four centuries of medical history in Canada, vol 1. Toronto:Macmillan, 1928:17-65.
    1. Stearn EW, Stearn AE. The effect of smallpox on the destiny of the Amerindian. Boston:Bruce Humphries, 1945:44-5.
    1. Nicks JS. William Tomison. In Halpenny FG, ed. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 1821-1835. Toronto:University of Toronto Press, 1987:5:775-7.
    1. Mackinnon CS. Samuel Hearne. In: Halpenny FG, ed. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 1771-1800. Toronto:University of Toronto Press, 1979:4:339-42.
    1. Spry IM. Matthew Cocking. In: Halpenny FG, ed. Dictionary of Canadian Biography, 1771-1800. Toronto:University of Toronto Press, 1979:4:156-8.

LinkOut - more resources