Measles vs. Smallpox

The N.Y. Times reviewed the new John Adams mini-series on HBO under the title, "Blowhard, Patriot, President".

I would say, a pox upon them. I'm enjoying the series very much.

The reviewer also is confused about this:

When one of the Adams children contracts measles, Abigail boldly chooses inoculation for herself and the other children.

This is doubly wrong:

1) She inoculates them preventively. That's how one gets pretty darned sick.

2) It's not measles at all. It's smallpox. That's why so many people are dropping like flies. That's why there are large pustules all over the victims. Did the reviewer notice that they were calling it "the pox"? Might that have been a clue?

Adams was a man of great eloquence, when eloquence was needed.
He spoke of the rights of man, and his call was heeded.