It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that a man had smallpox, then he became ritually impure (junub); he took a ritual bath, was struck by the cold, and died. When the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was informed of this, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They killed him, may Allah destroy them! Is not the cure for ignorance to ask? Why did they not have him perform dry ablution (tayammum)?"
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب العين / 11424