Techniques in The Demon in The Freeze by Richard Preston

The abuse of the virus by the Russians in the manufacturing of tons of the virus for weaponry and lax security may have easily allowed the virus to be stolen and placed in the hands of terrorists and other harmful nations and organizations. Based off our minimal knowledge of the Russians" dealings with the virus we know that it poses a significant threat to us today.
             Richard Preston does an excellent job of employing a variety of literary techniques to explain the horrors and workings of the smallpox virus by taking us on a journey through various incidents throughout the history of the virus. He also explains how the virus may be in the wrong hands and that the horrors of smallpox outbreaks may easily be unleashed on us as well. The strength of Preston's article lies in his style and diction. Both are very simple so that the message can be understood by anyone, not just somebody of a scientific background. He does good job tying together various examples and anecdotes mixed with his own facts and research in order to explain the resilient and horrific nature of Variola, which may soon be among us again.
             Preston begins his article by giving his readers a basic background of the virus and its symptoms. His diction is simple as he keeps to the point and doesn't burden the reader with scientific terms. He begins to instill a fear of the virus to readers by talking about the maladies infected patients feel ("illness hits with a spike of fever, a backache and vomiting .pain of the splitting is extraordinary. People lose the ability to speak and their eyes can squeeze shut with pustules" 150-151). Preston uses imagery by using verbs such as splitting, tearing and erupting in order for his readers to see the pustules breaking out and covering their bodies ("skin resembles a cobblestone street"). He continues in his description of Black pox with words such as charred, oozes and disintegrates.