a. [f. med.L. variola VARIOLA, or a. F. varioleux: see -OUS.]
1. Of the nature of, resembling (that of), variola or small-pox; of or pertaining to, appearing in, characteristic of, variola.
1676. Phil. Trans., XI. 569. The third Epidemical Constitution … was that of the Small-pocks, and of a Variolous Feaver, resembling … the Smal-pocks. Ibid. (1749), XLVI. 235. From the Dissections of those who have died of the Small-Pox, we find that the Viscera are subject to the variolous Abscesses. Ibid. (1780), LXX. 139. She was delivered of a child, as full of variolous pustules as herself.
1802. Med. Jrnl., VIII. 170. [They] thought it [an eruption] had a variolous appearance.
1845. Encycl. Metrop., VII. 754/2. When a person has been inoculated with a mixture of the variolous and vaccine poisons.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 639. In these respects its evolution is not unlike that of a variolous or vaccine vesicle.
Comb. 1801. Med. Jrnl., V. 453. Others were distinguishable by a variolous-like aspect and circular inflammation.
b. Variolous matter (fluid or virus), the virus of small-pox, esp. as used for purposes of inoculation.
1747. trans. Astruc’s Fevers, 278. From the first reception of the variolous matter.
1798. Jenner, Variolæ Vaccinæ (1801), 23. Cow-pox virus … renders the constitution unsusceptible of the variolous.
1800. Med. Jrnl., IV. 22. I immediately inoculated the whole party with the most virulent variolous matter I could procure.
1825. Good, Study Med. (ed. 2), V. 192. When vaccine or variolous fluid is properly inserted under the cuticle.
1875. Richardson, Dis. Mod. Life, 83. He therefore inoculated patients with diluted solutions of variolous matter.
c. Variolous contagion, disease, infection, etc., variola, small-pox. ? Obs.
c. 1792. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), IX. 245/2. The variolous matter only produces the variolous disease.
1799. Med. Jrnl., I. 318. In every instance, the patient … has completely lost the susceptibility for the variolous contagion. Ibid. (1807), XVII. 27. Six full days … during which they had been exposed to the variolous infection.
1827. De Quincey, Last Days Kant, Wks. 1854, III. 123. He thought, that, as a guarantee against the variolous infection, it required a much longer probation.
2. Of persons: Affected with, suffering from, small-pox.
1668. Sydenham, Let. Boyle, B.’s Wks. 1744, V. 639/2. In visiting … many of my variolous patients.
c. 1792. Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3), IX. 245/2. Inoculation with the blood of variolous patients hath been tried without effect.
1804. Med. Jrnl., XII. 184. Variolous patients.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 207. It is … exceptional to find that the children born of variolous mothers … have had small-pox in uterus.
3. Ent. (Scc quot.)
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., IV. xlvi. 270. Variolous (Variolosa), beset with many varioles.
