Pox Parties

Before immunizations came around, kids must be deliberately presented to a huge number of irresistible infections. These ‘parties’ were mostly held for Chicken Pox and Measles; now and then, Mumps and Rubella were tossed in there too for good measure. Chicken Pox was very common. Individuals considered it to be inescapable and just did what they could to ‘get it over with.’ Luckily, kids recuperated rapidly and created insusceptibility. In any event, we have antibodies now. They have helped a great deal.