Headlines of the Epidemic in the Richmond Times

Introduction:
After being given the opportunity to grow to
epidemic levels within Camp Lee, the river city
of Richmond, Virginia bore the full brunt of the
1918 influenza epidemic. Influenza arrived in
mid-September 1918 at Camp Lee, an Army
training camp preparing soldiers to be deployed
overseas to World War I. Within days, there
were over 1000 cases within the camp alone,
easily overwhelming base medical personnel.
The constant exchange of people between Camp
Lee and Richmond, which lay just 25 miles to
the north, introduced influenza to the city in full
force by the end of the month. Just over a week
later, over 10000 cases were recorded in the
city. After a second wave in early December
which lasted until February 1919, Richmond
recorded a total of 20841 cases by the New Year
with 946 deaths due to influenza or pneumonia.
September
October
• First case arrives at Camp •
Lee
• Influenza achieves epidemic •
status within Camp Lee
Research Questions:
Daniel Lin
• Influenza spread almost unchecked between Camp Lee and the city. How did city and
camp officials allow this to happen?
• Once influenza established a foothold in Richmond, city health officials were
remarkably inefficient at implementing closures and other preventative measures to try
to curb the spread of influenza. How did the back-and-forth reactions of the city’s health
officials affect the spread of disease?
• How were the various demographics affected by influenza?
November
Influenza reaches Richmond •
on October 1.
•
Public gathering places
closed and emergency
hospitals set up
December
First wave begins to clear • Second wave, nearly as
Restrictions removed from
strong as the first
gathering places, hospitals • Schools not closed this time
clearing out
• Improved greatly after New
Year’s
Headlines of the Epidemic in the Richmond Times-Dispatch
Analysis:
Richmond suffered greatly at the hands of the influenza
epidemic largely due to the rate of which it was introduced
to the city. Like many localities, Richmond had a military
post nearby, and it was here that influenza was able to grow
to full epidemic strength. Health officials in the camp, as
well as military commanders there, refused to quarantine
the camp internally, believing that it would interfere too
much with training. Later, once the epidemic had reached
the city, Richmond Chief Health Officer Roy K. Flannagan
believed that setting up quarantine would be ineffective, as
there were already many cases of influenza within the city.
Within the city, authorities were quick, but incomplete in
attempting to curb the spread of disease. While enclosed
gathering spaces were closed off, outdoor functions
continued on, at least for another day. Schools initially
remained open, as they were believed to be a safe haven for
children that were not sick. This order was rescinded only
days later, when Flannagan deemed it too great a risk to
continue sending children to school during the epidemic.
Midway through November, cases of influenza dramatically
dropped, leading the public and officials to believe that
influenza was waning in the city. The city was opened back
up, schools returned to their pre-epidemic states, and public
hope and morale was up following the apparent passing of
the epidemic. To their dismay, just as life was returning to
normal, a second wave hit, nearly as hard as the first, and
continued on through into February 1919.
Bibliography
“Strange Malady Causes Camp Lee Quarantine,” 15 Sept. 1918, 8
“Influenza Safeguards Taken by Dr. Flannagan,” 2 Oct. 1918, 14.
“Influenza Situation Considered Grave,” 5 Oct. 1918, 10.
“Epidemic Forces Drastic Action,” 6 Oct. 1918, 1.
“State Fair Not Affected By Influenza Epidemic,” 6 Oct. 1918, 3-1.
“Plague Continues to Ravage State,” 10 Oct. 1918, 1.
Spanish Influenza Ads, 10 Oct. 1918, 10.
“Trying Hard To Clear John Marshall Hospital,” 31 Oct. 1918, 4
“Flu Restrictions Lifted By Board,” 5 Nov. 1918, 1
“Report 98 Cases of Grippe in One Day,” 1 Dec. 1918, 12
Discussion of Images
Advertisers in the Richmond Times-Dispatch were
quick to jump on the opportunity to advertise all
sorts of influenza remedies. However, because of a
general lack of understanding as to how exactly it
was spread, many products were misleadingly sold
as remedies and cure-alls. Also of note below is the
formatting of the advertisement, virtually
indistinguishable from an article until having read
to the end of the second column.