[80] Allen and Jones noted that some blacks had worked for free, that they had died at the same rate as whites from the epidemic, and that some whites had also overcharged for their services. Find History on Facebook (Opens in a new window), Find History on Twitter (Opens in a new window), Find History on YouTube (Opens in a new window), Find History on Instagram (Opens in a new window), Find History on TikTok (Opens in a new window), Current one is: October 11. This was a significant event in the history of the U.S., yet I don't remember hearing it mentioned in school. He hired Jean Devze, a French doctor with experience treating yellow fever in Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). Many of the slaves in Charleston in 1742 could have gained immunity before having been transported from Africa, by having been exposed to yellow fever in a mild case. From inside the book . Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. "Yearly Meeting Epistle 1793," Swarthmore College Library Quaker Collection; see also letter by Margaret Morris to her daughter August 31, 1793, Haverford College Library Manuscript Collection. [29], In his 1794 account of the epidemic, Mathew Carey noted that other doctors claimed to have used calomel (a mercury compound) before Rush and that "its efficacy was great and rescued many from death." "[15], Rush later described some early cases: On August 7, he treated a young man for headaches, fever, and vomiting, and on the 15th treated his brother. It is an exciting portrayal of a somber event in our national history, which helped us better understand the full impact of this tragedy and disease. About two months into the epidemic, however, Rush was proven wrong and Black people began to fall ill, dying from yellow fever at about the same rate as whites. It . [75], Some of the city's clergy suggested the epidemic was a judgment from God. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, The Yellow Fever Epidemic in Philadelphia, 1793, A Short Account of the Malignant Fever, Lately Prevalent in Philadelphia. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Their efforts, though praised by Rush, were scorned by the white public as being profiteering and extortionist. In An American Plague, he tells the story of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic. An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 dramatically recounts the true story of the yellow fever epidemic that nearly decimated the population of Philadelphia at the end of the 18th century. The medical community and others in 1793 did not understand the role of mosquitoes in the transmission of yellow fever, malaria, and other diseases. Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides. Both books are similar in information however this one gives a lot more interesting info. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. . Like all hospitals of that time, the Pennsylvania Hospital did not admit patients with infectious diseases. [Gage] basically said: If you cant see the disease, if you cant see whats happening, then how do I know it exists? Randall says. The doctor found that 67 of about 400 residents near the Arch Street wharf were sick, but only 12 had "malignant fevers. This one sparked my curiosity because in "The Great Influenza", Philadelphia is hit badly by the 1918 influenza epidemic. Plague has occurred in people of all ages (infants up to age 96), though 50% of cases occur in people ages 12-45. Instant PDF downloads. [28], Rush claimed that he had tried Kuhn's and Steven's stimulating remedies but that his patients still died. [12] Believing that the refugees from Saint-Domingue were carrying the disease, the city imposed a quarantine of two to three weeks on immigrants and their goods but was unable to enforce it as the epidemic increased its reach. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights, An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, Arthur Mervyn; or, Memoirs of the Year 1793. He was better at communicating scientific and medical information to the public, and also better at earning the trust of the citys Chinese community. The word means pestilence in the Aztec Nahuatl language. 2 likes. Parties mistakenly assumed that people of African descent would have the same partial immunity to the new disease as many had to malaria, which was typically the most common source of fever epidemics during the summer months. Rush thought that the outbreak had originated in a pile of rotting coffee beans left on the docks. I didn't even notice that until now. As the mortality rate increased, they had to hire men to get anyone to deal with the sick and dying. Listen to "An American Plague The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793" by Jim Murphy available from Rakuten Kobo. Philadelphia was the new country's capital at the time and President George Washington was in residence. $9.99. Known today to be spread by infected mosquitoes, yellow fever was long believed to be a miasmatic disease originating in rotting vegetable matter and other putrefying filth, and most believed the fever to be contagious. The cure for the disease was not found until centuries later. Contrary to this misguided belief, the plague did infect white San Franciscans; but in the beginning, it hit residents of Chinatown the hardest. The Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends at the Arch Street Meeting House drew 100 attendees, most from outside the city. Minutes of the Proceedings of the Committee Appointed on the 14th September, 1793, by the Citizens of Philadelphia, the Northern Liberties and the District of Southwark, to Attend to and Alleviate the Suffering of the Afflicted with the Malignant Fever, Prevalent in the City and Its Vicinity, With an Appendix. We then offered our services in the public papers, by advertising that we would remove the dead and procure nurses. Still, California leaders stuck to their story. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. An Award Winner of three awards; The Newberry Award, The Rober Siebert Honor, and The National Book Award Finalist. Everyone should avoid unnecessary contact with the sick. Letters describing their cases were published in a pamphlet about a month after they died. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Yellow fever, or American plague as it was known at the time, is a viral disease that begins with fever and muscle pain. thousands stayed behind. Imagine living through a plague that's wiping out huge parts of the population around you, with nothing to stop it and no end in sight. Founded by the Quaker William Penn, the city was the center of Quaker life in the United States. The Appendix of the on-line edition of Minutes lists the names of all the patients admitted to Bush Hill hospital, as well as the disposition of their cases. [88] A 2004 paper in the Bulletin of the History of Medicine reexamined Rush's use of bleeding. All Rights Reserved. They warned citizens to avoid fatigue, the hot sun, night air, too much liquor, and anything else that might lower their resistance. Clergymen also published accounts; the most notable was by the Lutheran minister J. Henry C. [69], Rush's therapy was generalized as "purge and bleed," and as long as the patient remained debilitated, Rush urged further purging and bleeding. In one week in October, 130 members of his congregation were buried. [56], On October 16, after temperatures cooled, a newspaper reported that "the malignant fever has very considerably abated. They recounted that. In a memoir published in 1794, Devze wrote of Girard: I even saw one of the diseased [discharge] the contents of his stomach upon [him]. He sent for us, and requested we would use our influence to lessen the wages of the nurses. Norfolk; June-Oct . In Europe and American colonies, calomel, or sweet mercury, was commonly used to treat many ailments, including yellow fever, typhus, worms, and syphilis. Bizarre medical practices of the time are discussed, as well as popular historical figures, such as . Helm and Girard informed the Committee that they could accommodate more than the 60 patients then under their care, and soon the hospital had 140 patients.[40]. The first major American yellow fever epidemic hit Philadelphia in July 1793 and peaked during the first weeks of October. Medical practices at the time are still rooted in ancient ideas and remedies, which adds additional challenges to confronting and containing the disease. After an extensive debate in the newspapers, the State Assembly denied the petition.[77]. Well-researched and readable, unless you have a very low tolerance for descriptions of the symptoms of a deadly disease. It occurs in both men and women, though . Philadelphia, then the nations capital, was the most cosmopolitan city in the United States. It's also not for the faint at heart or easily disturbed, as it's full of semi-graphic descriptions of the disease, unsanitary conditions, dead bodies, etc. [citation needed], Rush's claim that his remedies cured 99 out of 100 patients has led historians and modern doctors to ridicule his remedies and approach to medical science. An American Plague's numerous awards include a Sibert Medal, a Newbery Honor, and designation as a National Book Award Finalist. [73] He preferred "acidulated" water to the use of Peruvian bark as many patients found the bark distasteful. The doctors did not understand the origin or transmittal of the disease. [42], As the death toll in the city rose, officials in neighboring communities and major port cities such as New York and Baltimore established quarantines for refugees and goods from Philadelphia. And I'll say it again, things went on and the world didn't end, and the country didn't collapse in on itself, all kinds of things didn't happen. Plague has occurred in people of all ages (infants up to age 96), though 50% of cases occur in people ages 12-45. The most interesting parts were in the last quarter of the book. By the time it ended, 5,000 people were dead. From the Center for the History of Medicine in the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine. In the 18th and 19th centuries, yellow fever killed more than 100,000 Americans. Residents next anticipated freezing temperatures at night, which they knew were associated with ending fall fevers, but not why this was so. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! An American Plague offers a fascinating glimpse into the conditions in American cities at the time of our nation's birth while drawing thought-provoking parallels to modern-day epidemics. 5 stars: 8: 4 stars: 16: Award: Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal. Evans, who is best known for his portrayal of Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, has had a successful career in both film and television. Integrating newspapers, diaries, personal testimonies and period illustrations, the narrative delivers a social and medical history of the times and raises chilling questions about the disease today. Plague is an infectious disease caused by a specific type of bacterium called Yersinia pestis. Many victims become delirious before dying. The net effects of history's injustices are staggering. Dr. Benjamin Rush published an account more than 300 pages long. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows. Almost all of these cases occur in the western United States. When the Mayor's Committee took a quick census of the dead, they found that the majority of victims were poor people, who died in homes located in the alleys, behind the main streets where most of the business of city was conducted. Follow her on Twitter at @MsBeckyLittle. Erica has taught college English writing and literature courses and has a master's degree in children's literature. From that day the fever spread fast and indiscriminately through the city. Published in 2003, Jim Murphys An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 is a historical nonfiction book for young adults that provides a detailed look into Philadelphias yellow fever epidemic of 1793. The organism that causes plague, Yersinia pestis, lives in small rodents found most commonly in rural and semirural areas of Africa, Asia and the United States. As the population fled or died, few were left to attend to nursing and burying duties. To keep the body open he recommended more calomel or small doses of cream of tartar or other salts. The historian Julie Winch believes they wanted to defend their community, knowing how powerful Carey was, and wanting to maintain the reputation of their people in the aftermath of the epidemic. If you have no real knowledge of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, this is a fine place to start. PDF downloads of all 1715 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. They outlined measures for city officials: stopping the tolling of church bells and making burials private; cleaning streets and wharves; exploding gunpowder in the street to increase the amount of oxygen. [34] On September 12, Clarkson summoned fellow citizens interested in helping the Guardians of the Poor. (including. Most of the Common Council members fled, along with 20,000 other residents. Scientists think the disease was first transmitted by infected rodents to humans through the bite of fleas. The symptoms began as chills, headache and back ache and spread to yellow tint to skin, nose, gums and intestinal bleeding and black vomit. Philadelphia's newspapers continued to publish during the epidemic, and the doctors and others tried to understand and combat the epidemic. Residents of Chinatown, in turn, sometimes hid the bodies of plague victims to prevent further discrimination against their community. Caring for the victims so strained public services that the local city government collapsed. Narrated by Pat Bottino. Such entertainment had been banned during the Revolution and had only recently been authorized. Rush 's use of bleeding the epidemic, and requested we would remove the and... That the local city government collapsed original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world 's best guides. Ability to save highlights and notes about 400 residents an american plague the Arch Street wharf were sick, not... 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