Posted on 04/13/2020 12:31:28 PM PDT by Bratch
The 1918 Influenza Pandemic was the deadliest in human history. But the virus was a part of the historical events of the time.
The History Guy recalls the forgotten history of how the events of 1918 shaped, and were shaped by, the pandemic.
It is history that deserves to be remembered.
I just finished this book: “The Great Influenza: The Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History Revised Edition, Kindle Edition”
It’s worth reading. Also a history of the development of medicine in the US. For example, most medical schools didn’t require a college degree until 1900 or so.
A couple of insights. One of the most common comments during the pandemic was “It’s just the flu”. Politicians didn’t want to cause a panic or disrupt the war effort. Philly didn’t cancel a war bonds parade despite warnings. A few days later 100’s were infected and then thousands and then the deaths began.
Also, worth remembering: there were at least three waves of infection. The first was relatively mild with few deaths. The later waves were much more lethal. (Are the few deaths were seeing now similar?)
Comparing 1918 to 2020 under any circumstances is not helpful. The advances in medicine in the past 102 yrs makes any comparison of the Spanish flu with the Chinese Virus impossible.
The Chinese Flu doesn’t even deserve to be in the same sentence as the Spanish Flu.
The Spanish Flu was a REAL pandemic and a horror show. The WuFlu is not.
Open this country up immediately!
The weak and vulnerable can stay isolated. This Hell must end.
Good read, for sure.
“Comparing 1918 to 2020 under any circumstances is not helpful. The advances in medicine in the past 102 yrs makes any comparison of the Spanish flu with the Chinese Virus impossible.”
My grandfather, born to two immigrants from Sweden in 1881 Dakota Territory, was one of seven children.
.
In one week dring the 1890s, three of them died from Diptheria.
The treatment of those times, was gargling Kerosene.
My mother was born in 1925 and had a younger sister. A few The younger sister died of some fairly common duchildhood disease.
In the mid 1950s school children in America were vaccinated for polio, sparing them the crippling of FDR and Mitch McConnell.
There have been plagues aand pandemicws throughout history.
China is the villain, for their secrecy.
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