The effect of the Influenza Pandemic on the lives of the ...

[Pages:4]Case Study 7: Track B: Science, Medicine, and Global Health: The 1918 Influenza Pandemic: Influenza and The Great War.

The Challenge question: How was the 1918 Influenza Pandemic experience different between civilian and military populations? Pay particular attention to issues of civil liberties and urban life.

The effect of the Influenza Pandemic on the lives of the civilians

The Influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more than fifty million people. The other name for this pandemic is the Spanish Flu. It is not named the Spanish flu because it started in Spain but because other countries were hiding the numbers of the deaths, so it does not affect them in the war. However, Spain was one of the first countries to disclose this information. That is why it is named the Spanish Flu. The mortality rate of the pandemic has been higher than any other pandemic in history and in comparison, to World War I (WWI). In 1918, Americans had joined in the fight and brought the Allies close to victory against the Germans. Deep within the trenches, a common cold started to spread among the troops. This influenza season was harsher than a common cold and quickly infected a fifth of the world's population. The pandemic changed the course of WWI, killed four times more than WWI, and affected the entertainment, service, and healthcare industries.

The 1918 Influenza pandemic affected global economics and social interactions. After the spread of the disease the government enforced strict measures that has influenced the social life of the citizens. Primary source 1 states that during the Influenza Pandemic Philadelphia enacted a

series of rules and regulations to control the number of infections. These rules changed civilians' everyday life dramatically. The board of public healthcare closed public spaces, including schools, theaters, churches, all the amusement and public assemblies and prohibited any public gatherings. Also, public transportations required facemasks and requested to use a handkerchief when sneezing (primary source 3). The closure of the gathering places of people turned them from once a lively and crowded place to an isolated one. People stopped going to schools, weddings, and even to practice their religion in their churches. This sudden shift in the quality of life and habits took a toll on how they interact with others.

Moreover, this makes it difficult for the citizens to access public services. To control the increasing number of infected people, the government prohibited using public transportation and other services without masks. For example, primary source 3 demonstrates a picture of a man being denied the entrance to a public bus because he does not have a mask. If we compare this incident to the current pandemic, Covid-19, then we can see a similar pattern. For example, in many countries around the world, it is not allowed to enter public institutions without showing a vaccination card. Some people would be negatively affected by this like old people or the people who can not get vaccinated.

Furthermore, these measures did not only change the social structure of the society, but it also affected the economy of the country. After the order of the government to close all businesses that have many visitors or customers, these places lost their profits. All these people were left jobless suddenly and were forced to stay home. On the contrary, the healthcare industry profited from this situation. Emergency hospitals were built and started giving service to the city. The healthcare personnel and medical and healthcare students were in high demand. Around 2500 doctors in Philadelphia during the pandemic served and on average all were receiving 75 calls daily. Not only that but some businesses have benefited from the high demand on their products. If we link it for example to the current world, after the spread of the Covid-19, the purchases of hand sanitizers, toilet papers, and other cleansing products have increased dramatically.

People's reaction to the restrictions imposed upon them vary. The clergymen have been opposing the closure of churches as well as other places of public assembly. People stopped attending the prayers, assemblies in the church, and other religious services. The clergymen feel that the governmental orders are not fair and that it is targeting the churches specifically among other institutions. These health precautions were taken as an attack against Christianity. However, the supporters of the governmental orders argued that the restrictions are not discriminating against any specific group of people or institutions, but it is imposed on large assemblies of people regardless of the occasion. In the Primary source 1, Dr. William defends the governments decision by stating that "the closing of the churches, in my opinion, not as churches, but simply as places of public assembly, is a wise-in fact, an imperative - measure

for the preservation of the public health". He further argues that as a Christian it is their duty to be concerned about public health. Therefore, these discussions show us two opinions and two sides of the perception of the citizens to the measures taken from the government regarding this pandemic.

The chaos made after the deaths of millions and the strict precautions has made it easier for myths to spread among civilians. During the pandemic, food and beverage companies started to advertise and introduce their products as remedies that cures the Influenza. During the Influenza Pandemic, civilians used a combination of commercial advertising and health prescriptions to cure or prevent infection. For example, primary source 4 is an instance of Lactogen commercial advertising Milk as an Influenza remedy. The uncertain situation due to the disease makes people run after buying these products that are advertised as solutions for the Influenza without even checking the truth behind these claims.

The experience of the military populations during the pandemic is quite different than that of the civilians. During the pandemic, humanitarian associations such as the Red Cross mobilized resources and worked locally to provide homes for discharged soldiers and army nurses. Also, the Red Cross organization prepared healthcare sources for cure and mobilized Studley Hall into nurses' convalescent home (Primary Source 5.) On the other hand, many civilians were dying because of the shortage of doctors in the city. These medical personals were sent to serve in the war and take care of the military patients. According to the first primary source, the influenza "occurred at a time when 1,000 of its most active physicians and nearly 900 nurses were absent on military duty". This resulted in the decrease in the number of the doctors who would take care of the civilian patients.

The Spanish flu or the 1918's Influenza has murdered many people's lives during the 18th century amid the World War one. The war killed more people than the war itself did. It had social, economic, and cultural affects. The primary sources demonstrated that all public places were closed, and all public meetings were limited in number. Besides being locked indoors, the citizens lost jobs because of the restrictions on the businesses. However, not all economical effects were negative. Some industries benefited like food industry that were advertising for their products as remedies for Influenza. This however demonstrates how such situations make it easy for the spread of myths of how to cure or prevent the infection. Not Everyone embraced the new changes positively. Some people were against the sever measures and believed it was against Christianity. The helps given for the military people were more than the civilians which resulted in more deaths. To conclude, this pandemic affected people's livelihood severely and also influenced the politics and lives of people forever.

References:

Monthly Bulletin of the Department of Public Health and Charities of the City of Philadelphia, Oct.-Nov., 1918 "Please, Let Me Put Him in a Macaroni Box: The Spanish Influenza of 1918 in Philadelphia," Interview done by Charles Hardy for WHYY-FM radio program The Influenza Pandemic of 1918, Philadelphia, 1984. 580334&hl=en

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