The earliest reports of smallpox range from around the year 1000 and was completely eliminated by the year 1980. In particular places it was often called by its well known epithet, “ the speckled monster,” because of the lacerations and sores it left on its victim's skin. Before it was eradicated and while it was still thriving it killed one out of every three of the children it touched. Smallpox thrived and prospered during the Middle Ages and later on it came to America when Spanish pioneers started to explore there. It was actually even used as a war technique in the mid 1700s by the british to kill off unwanted Native Americans.