[A Study on the Chinese Name of Smallpox].

The Zhou hou fang (Handbook of Formulae) is the earliest known ancient medical book carrying the title of smallpox, called "lu chuan" (captive sore). Since then, various names had been applied to this disorder, including "sheng chuang" (holy sore), "tian chuang" (celestial sore), "wan dou chuang" (pea sore), "fu dou chuang" (bran sore), and "dou zhen" (pox-rash). This frequent changes of disease titles in its history is a significant mark of the evolution of TCM recognition on smallpox related to its treatment and prevention, and folk-social customs. It was not until the Republican period that the title of "pox-rash" was substituted by smallpox, a specific title for this viral infection. This is also the outcome showing the important position of TCM treatment and prevention for smallpox replaced by the preventive method of modern smallpox vaccination.