Pox

Pox
Ailment information
Symptoms	Eruption of blisters on the body
Treatment(s)	Unknown spell Unknown potion

A pox is a type of infectious disease characterised by the eruption of blisters on the body and usually transferred to humans from animals.

Varieties

Wizardkind and Muggles alike suffered from pox. One of the non-magical varieties was chicken pox, which Billy Stubbs and Eric Whalley, children living at Wool's Orphanage, got in 1938.

A wizard afflicted with Dragon Pox

The one known magical variety was Dragon Pox. It was first contracted by wizards and witches who worked with Peruvian Vipertooths. Symptoms included a lasting green tinge to the skin, a green-and-purple rash between the toes, and sneezing sparks. Although generally not fatal, it could prove deadly when contracted by the elderly.

Treatment

The Fat Friar, a Christian monk and wizard who lived during the Middle Ages, cured many peasants of "the pox" by merely "poking [them] with a stick." This, along with his habit of conjuring rabbits from the communion cup, caused his senior churchmen to become suspicious of him, which lead to his execution.

In the 12th century, Muggles in the village of Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire regularly went to their neighbour Linfred (who, unbeknownst to them, was a wizard) seeking remedies for the ailments that afflicted them. He readily brewed potions for them, including cures for pox and ague.

Appearances

• Pottermore (Mentioned only)