Explore the devastating impact of the 1918 Spanish Flu's second wave on Philadelphia in this 29-minute video, part of the "Mysteries of the Microscopic World" series. Delve into the harrowing details of overflowing military hospitals, premature toe-tagging of soldiers, and the suicide of an Army officer overwhelmed by troop losses. Trace the flu's American origins and its rapid spread from Camp Devens in Boston to Philadelphia, where corrupt inefficiency led to a catastrophic outbreak. Examine the uncertainty surrounding the flu's cause, controversial treatments, and the complete shutdown of public life. Witness the city's descent into chaos as bodies pile up, orphans multiply, and even packs of dogs become a threat. Learn about the virus's mutations, global death toll, and its eventual subsidence in humans while persisting in birds. Gain insights into this once-in-a-century pandemic that claimed 50-100 million lives worldwide and forever changed the course of history.
The 1918 Spanish Flu—The Philadelphia Story - Part 2 of 3
Overview
Syllabus
A Children´s Schoolyard Rhyme Expresses the Flu
The Spanish Flu is Actually an American Flu
Ms. Olson´s Death Sets Off the Second Wave
Camp Devens in Boston Has a Major Outbreak
Uncertainty Over the Cause of the Flu Drives Fear
In 1919, the Flu is Controversially Said to Be Viral
Flu Treatments Range from Futile to Absurd
All Public Life Stops from Fear of the Flu
The Business of War Booms
Philadelphia´s Corrupt Inefficiency Leads to Outbreak
Fear Explodes as Stores, Schools, and Churches Close
News Editorials Question Official Narratives
Officials Predict End of Pandemic, Yet Deaths Surge
Telephones Begin Routing Emergency Calls Only
Epidemic Peaks in Philadelphia as Bodies Pile Up
Flu Destruction Leaves Orphans in Its Wake
Competitive Exclusion Reveals Mutations in Influenza
Flu Weakens, Yet Global Death Toll Is 50-100 Million
Major Global Cities Detail Staggering Numbers of Dead
Packs of Starving Dogs Go Berzerk on Sick and Dead
Flu Subsides in Humans while Birds Harbor the Virus
Taught by
Wondrium
