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An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793
1793, Philadelphia. The nation's capital and the largest city in North America is devastated by an apparently incurable disease, cause unknown . . .
Jim Murphy describes the illness known as yellow fever and the toll it took on the city's residents, relating the epidemic to the major social and political events of the day and to 18th-century medical beliefs and practices. Drawing on first-hand accounts, Murphy spotlights the heroic role of Philadelphia's free blacks in combating the disease, and the Constitutional crisis that President Washington faced when he was forced to leave the city--and all his papers--while escaping the deadly contagion. The search for the fever's causes and cure, not found for more than a century afterward, provides a suspenseful counterpoint to this riveting true story of a city under siege.
Jim Murphy describes the illness known as yellow fever and the toll it took on the city's residents, relating the epidemic to the major social and political events of the day and to 18th-century medical beliefs and practices. Drawing on first-hand accounts, Murphy spotlights the heroic role of Philadelphia's free blacks in combating the disease, and the Constitutional crisis that President Washington faced when he was forced to leave the city--and all his papers--while escaping the deadly contagion. The search for the fever's causes and cure, not found for more than a century afterward, provides a suspenseful counterpoint to this riveting true story of a city under siege.
165 pages, Hardcover
First published June 23, 2003
381 people are currently reading
6860 people want to read
About the author
Jim Murphy
32 books87 followersAn American author of more than 35 nonfiction and fiction books for children, young adults, and general audiences, including more than 30 about American history. He won the Margaret Edwards Award from the American Library Association in 2010 for his contribution in writing for teens. Jim lives in Maplewood, New Jersey, in a hundred-year-old house with his wife Alison Blank, a children’s TV producer and children’s book author and editor, his two talented musician sons, a regal mutt, an African water frog that will live forever, and a house vast collection of books..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 708 reviews
June 17, 2020
it is inconceivable to me that this is a book intended for children. the beginning part is fine, but the last chapter or so is paralyzingly terrifying. if i had read this as a child, it would have given me night terrors for years and even now i would think of it with chills, as i do with The Tailypo: A Ghost Story. brrr... this book chronicles an outbreak of yellow fever that killed 5000 people. and by chronicling, i mean it goes into details of black-bile-vomiting, and women giving birth to babies where both die within moments etc... and then - THEN - the last chapter is devoted to the oh-so-reassuring information that there is still no cure and it is only a matter of time before this happens again and mosquitoes are getting stronger and stronger and we have fewer options for prevention. and its delivered in this blithe, casual shrugging tone, AND THIS IS HOW THE BOOK ENDS!! not with a bang, but a quiet buzzing.
and now we have this.
come to my blog!
and now we have this.
come to my blog!
July 5, 2009
I have to admit that I learned some things from this book. I had no idea that for about 3 months the Federal government got shut down because of yellow fever. Imagine that? For three months nothing happened in the government, no laws were passed, no meetings, nothing and yet the world still went on, and this at a time much more critical than normal, when part of the population wanted another revolution to go along with the French Revolution, and the entire country was only a few years old. So because all of the people in government were afraid of catching the disease they went home for awhile, left their papers behind, and didn't meet up and do anything because at the time convening the Congress anywhere else would have been unconstitutional. 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. Neat huh?
This isn't the moral of the story, that government is sort of worthless, and that people can kind of take care of themselves without being treated like ignorant four year olds (sadly though most people are just about as good at behaving without authority as an ignorant four year old, sigh); that's not the moral at all of this book. Instead it's about disease, and exposing kids to what medicine was like in the 1790's, and what life was like then, and how a group of African-Americans showed themselves to be just about the only decent people in a city being ravaged by disease, fear and paranoia and how these same decent people later got the shaft from cowardly white folk who ran to the hills as soon as they saw plague like things coming at them.
I don't know much about kids, or really what age this book is meant for, but this is actually a pretty heavy book for kids, but kind of cool too because weaved into the story are all kinds of little sub-texts that could work as rational time-bombs on their developing minds.
I would give it four stars, but a few of the sentences really bothered me, and the authors use of exclamation points in the latter part of the book irked me with it's unnecessary junvinality (is this even a word?!?), something the book I feel had avoided up until those pesky little punctuation marks reared their heads!
This isn't the moral of the story, that government is sort of worthless, and that people can kind of take care of themselves without being treated like ignorant four year olds (sadly though most people are just about as good at behaving without authority as an ignorant four year old, sigh); that's not the moral at all of this book. Instead it's about disease, and exposing kids to what medicine was like in the 1790's, and what life was like then, and how a group of African-Americans showed themselves to be just about the only decent people in a city being ravaged by disease, fear and paranoia and how these same decent people later got the shaft from cowardly white folk who ran to the hills as soon as they saw plague like things coming at them.
I don't know much about kids, or really what age this book is meant for, but this is actually a pretty heavy book for kids, but kind of cool too because weaved into the story are all kinds of little sub-texts that could work as rational time-bombs on their developing minds.
I would give it four stars, but a few of the sentences really bothered me, and the authors use of exclamation points in the latter part of the book irked me with it's unnecessary junvinality (is this even a word?!?), something the book I feel had avoided up until those pesky little punctuation marks reared their heads!
March 26, 2008
A fascinating review of an event not so long ago that could be repeated in our heavily populated cities and poorly prepared hospitals. An interesting aspect is the courageous role that African Americans played which was largely ignored by history. Also, the aspect of scentists battling an unknown disease with some unfortunate consequences. The man who should be credited with figuring it out watched the mosquito bite him that ended up killing him.
July 10, 2020
When I purchased this book, it was through Scholastic a few years ago back when I had a bunch of points to use on my class.
Fast forward three years ahead to last week, when I had to do some tidying up in my classroom, I found this in a stack of books I haven’t read yet. Of course it became next on my list to read because of how much it seemed to mirror our current situation.
When I opened the book, I recognized the first name I saw - Dr. Benjamin Rush. This name triggered a memory I had of a biography project I did when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. I chose to research Benjamin Rush because he was one of my great-something grandfathers. My mom showed me an old family tree written on a massive piece of paper with names traced all the way back to before the Revolution. I learned that Benjamin Rush’s signature is on The Declaration of Independence, he was a confidant of President George Washington, and was a famously known doctor in Philadelphia during the American Revolution. Of course I perked up when I saw his name in this book and was reminded of this special piece of family history!!!
From reading this book (of which is a main “character”) I learned that he was SO MUCH MORE than all that my elementary school self was able to find on “Ask Jeeves”!
This narrative begins when Dr. Rush was called to the bedside of a gravely ill young lady by two of his colleagues. When he saw her symptoms, he suspected very quickly that Philadelphia would need to be warned of this mysterious fever. He sent word to many living in his neighborhood, and caused (significant) panic throughout the town. Many fled while he stayed to care for the increasing numbers of ill residents.
Apparently, he is credited with the discovery of the 1793 Yellow Fever Epidemic, as well as a controversial cure for the disease... controversial because he basically poisoned his patients to initiate a purge of anything toxic in their bodies. He found the “cure” to be highly successful! He even came down with Yellow Fever (TWICE) himself and used his own cure, making his own body his evidence.
I could go on and on, but the point is:
This was a PERFECTLY timed read! I am so proud that I have this story to tell!!! I am rating it 5 stars because 1) it is highly intriguing, well researched, and ends with a creepy foreshadowing into the world’s current situation, and 2) this personal connection left me speechless, and with a passion to pursue reading more non-fiction from this portion of medical history!
Fast forward three years ahead to last week, when I had to do some tidying up in my classroom, I found this in a stack of books I haven’t read yet. Of course it became next on my list to read because of how much it seemed to mirror our current situation.
When I opened the book, I recognized the first name I saw - Dr. Benjamin Rush. This name triggered a memory I had of a biography project I did when I was in 3rd or 4th grade. I chose to research Benjamin Rush because he was one of my great-something grandfathers. My mom showed me an old family tree written on a massive piece of paper with names traced all the way back to before the Revolution. I learned that Benjamin Rush’s signature is on The Declaration of Independence, he was a confidant of President George Washington, and was a famously known doctor in Philadelphia during the American Revolution. Of course I perked up when I saw his name in this book and was reminded of this special piece of family history!!!
From reading this book (of which is a main “character”) I learned that he was SO MUCH MORE than all that my elementary school self was able to find on “Ask Jeeves”!
This narrative begins when Dr. Rush was called to the bedside of a gravely ill young lady by two of his colleagues. When he saw her symptoms, he suspected very quickly that Philadelphia would need to be warned of this mysterious fever. He sent word to many living in his neighborhood, and caused (significant) panic throughout the town. Many fled while he stayed to care for the increasing numbers of ill residents.
Apparently, he is credited with the discovery of the 1793 Yellow Fever Epidemic, as well as a controversial cure for the disease... controversial because he basically poisoned his patients to initiate a purge of anything toxic in their bodies. He found the “cure” to be highly successful! He even came down with Yellow Fever (TWICE) himself and used his own cure, making his own body his evidence.
I could go on and on, but the point is:
This was a PERFECTLY timed read! I am so proud that I have this story to tell!!! I am rating it 5 stars because 1) it is highly intriguing, well researched, and ends with a creepy foreshadowing into the world’s current situation, and 2) this personal connection left me speechless, and with a passion to pursue reading more non-fiction from this portion of medical history!
February 12, 2019
This was a significant event in the history of the U.S., yet I don't remember hearing it mentioned in school. Not only did it directly impact thousands of people, it also closed down the Federal gov't, resulting in a revision of some laws. It also sparked heated medical debate among the physicians (who knew very little about the disease).
Chapter 5 focuses on the Free African Society which had been founded in 1787, as the first organization in American created by blacks for blacks.. Amazingly, after the treatment they'd received from the white community, the society agreed to serve as nurses to the vast number of whites who lay sick and abandoned in their homes. Not only were the nurses endangering their own health, the work was decidedly unpleasant and often thankless.
The novel Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson complements the facts presented in this book.
Chapter 5 focuses on the Free African Society which had been founded in 1787, as the first organization in American created by blacks for blacks.. Amazingly, after the treatment they'd received from the white community, the society agreed to serve as nurses to the vast number of whites who lay sick and abandoned in their homes. Not only were the nurses endangering their own health, the work was decidedly unpleasant and often thankless.
The novel Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson complements the facts presented in this book.
February 27, 2022
A little dry as an audio book. The most interesting parts were in the last quarter of the book. Hearing how scientists were mocked for believing yellow fever is spread by mosquitoes and how the attempt to eradicate that type of mosquitoes saved this book from being an absolute bore for me.
Newbery Honor 2004
Newbery Honor 2004
February 12, 2019
There are themes to this one that seem a wee bit strong for a work written for youth but it should certainly garner discussion. I learned a fair number of new historical facts in this one and truly appreciated the research and concise presentation of the events surrounding the 1793 yellow fever epidemic as well as so many other epidemics of this disease which hit different cities in the States. This is not a happy book, but you will learn a thing or two. I especially appreciated the fair and balanced look at one of my favorite Founding Fathers, Benjamin Rush. A couple of quotes about him...
"He was passionate and outspoken in his beliefs, no matter what the subject. He opposed slavery, felt that alcohol and tobacco should be avoided, urged that the corporal punishment of children be stopped, and thought that the best way to keep a democracy strong was by having universal education."
"To his credit, Rush did not hesitate to use his own cure when the yellow fever struck him down. He turned himself over to two of his young assistants, who bled him and administered the purge. It would be months before Rush truly regained his strength, but within five days he was back on his feet and valiantly seeing patients in his home."
"He was passionate and outspoken in his beliefs, no matter what the subject. He opposed slavery, felt that alcohol and tobacco should be avoided, urged that the corporal punishment of children be stopped, and thought that the best way to keep a democracy strong was by having universal education."
"To his credit, Rush did not hesitate to use his own cure when the yellow fever struck him down. He turned himself over to two of his young assistants, who bled him and administered the purge. It would be months before Rush truly regained his strength, but within five days he was back on his feet and valiantly seeing patients in his home."
February 6, 2018
Good book about the plague, with an accessible level and a small length that avoids to become bored.
The book explained well the spread of the disease and gave a good insight on the cures that were tried, the number of deaths and the life conditions at this time. As a foreigner, I knew nothing about the illness and the events, so it was interesting to discover it. For an apocalyptic books lover, it was also a fun read, mostly because it depicted with no surprises how people reacted to it (the ones that flew away, the ones that died, the ones that continued to help save the day even if the risk of being ill/dead was huge, and the ones that find new ways to make more money...). Even if the cures weren't something I'd like to try nowadays, I found compelling to follow the doctors and then later the scientists working on the disease. It was also nice to see how the black community was involved in provinding nursing and how the population was totally thankful (no, I'm joking, they weren't all thankful, as expected). Good job for the last chapter, well documented at a scientific level, it matched what I know about the vectors. I didn't care about the illustrations, but they gave a nice old school touch to the read and completed the context.
The book explained well the spread of the disease and gave a good insight on the cures that were tried, the number of deaths and the life conditions at this time. As a foreigner, I knew nothing about the illness and the events, so it was interesting to discover it. For an apocalyptic books lover, it was also a fun read, mostly because it depicted with no surprises how people reacted to it (the ones that flew away, the ones that died, the ones that continued to help save the day even if the risk of being ill/dead was huge, and the ones that find new ways to make more money...). Even if the cures weren't something I'd like to try nowadays, I found compelling to follow the doctors and then later the scientists working on the disease. It was also nice to see how the black community was involved in provinding nursing and how the population was totally thankful (no, I'm joking, they weren't all thankful, as expected). Good job for the last chapter, well documented at a scientific level, it matched what I know about the vectors. I didn't care about the illustrations, but they gave a nice old school touch to the read and completed the context.
February 2, 2010
Ok, so I'm on a roll here reading about disease and epidemics! This one sparked my curiosity because in "The Great Influenza", Philadelphia is hit badly by the 1918 influenza epidemic. It looks like in this book Philadelphia was also badly hit in 1793 by the yellow fever epidemic. Gotta read it to find out more!
******
This book is a Newberry Honor book for children. As such it is not difficult reading at all, but still was worthwhile to read.
In the summer of 1793 yellow fever hit Philadelphia and killed 10% of the population of the city in the first month of the epidemic, eventually killing 4 to 5,000 people. At the time, the cause of yellow fever was unknown, and treatments went from mild to extreme. Philadelphia in the 1790's had cramped and dirty streets, trash and rubbish and sewage standing in stagnant ponds in the streets contributing to the breeding of mosquitos, the carrier for yellow fever.
The mosquitos that carried yellow fever to Philadelphia most likely came from Haiti where many French refugees fled from the revolution going on there, and arrived in Philadelphia. Some of these people may have been ill with yellow fever when they arrived, and also the ships may have brought mosquitos that were carriers into the city.
Controversy raged between doctors over appropriate treatment. Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the founding fathers of the Unites States was also a physician. He was known as the "king of the bleeders" because that was his preferred way to treat yellow fever patients during the epidemic. One other physician at the time accused Dr. Rush of killing more yellow fever patients with his "cure" than would have died from the disease itself! It is hard to criticize either doctor, because of course neither one of them knew for sure what really caused yellow fever.
The epidemic waned as cooler weather came, as the marshes and swamps dried up (and thus the mosquitos had fewer breeding places). There were subsequent yellow fever outbreaks in following years, but never the extent of what they had been in 1793. The 1793 epidemic did result in a clean up of the streets of the city, removing dead animals and rubbish, emptying barrels of stagnant water and anything that contributed to the stench around the harbor area. In doing this, the mosquito breeding grounds were reduced, and that brought better health to the city even though they did not know that mosquitos were carriers of the disease.
Even more interesting to me was the fact that George Washington, President of the United States at the time, was kept from making important decisions largely because Congress could not be convened anywhere other than Philadelphia.... and yet all governmental officials had fled the city because of the epidemic. The founding fathers had had a healthy fear of a king whimsically calling the government into session in some remotely located area, thus keeping the government from holding him accountable.... so they had pretty much said that Congress could only meet in Philadelphia. The epidemic meant that for 6 to 8 weeks, no one could conduct any governmental business! So after the epidemic, Congress did allow a provision that the president could call congress into session at another location in emergency situations.
It is interesting to note that the issue of whether the United States would support their former ally, France, in their revolution needed to be decided in exactly this time. Because Washington was unable to convene Congress, this approval was delayed. And by the time the epidemic was over, support for the French issue had waned.
******
This book is a Newberry Honor book for children. As such it is not difficult reading at all, but still was worthwhile to read.
In the summer of 1793 yellow fever hit Philadelphia and killed 10% of the population of the city in the first month of the epidemic, eventually killing 4 to 5,000 people. At the time, the cause of yellow fever was unknown, and treatments went from mild to extreme. Philadelphia in the 1790's had cramped and dirty streets, trash and rubbish and sewage standing in stagnant ponds in the streets contributing to the breeding of mosquitos, the carrier for yellow fever.
The mosquitos that carried yellow fever to Philadelphia most likely came from Haiti where many French refugees fled from the revolution going on there, and arrived in Philadelphia. Some of these people may have been ill with yellow fever when they arrived, and also the ships may have brought mosquitos that were carriers into the city.
Controversy raged between doctors over appropriate treatment. Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the founding fathers of the Unites States was also a physician. He was known as the "king of the bleeders" because that was his preferred way to treat yellow fever patients during the epidemic. One other physician at the time accused Dr. Rush of killing more yellow fever patients with his "cure" than would have died from the disease itself! It is hard to criticize either doctor, because of course neither one of them knew for sure what really caused yellow fever.
The epidemic waned as cooler weather came, as the marshes and swamps dried up (and thus the mosquitos had fewer breeding places). There were subsequent yellow fever outbreaks in following years, but never the extent of what they had been in 1793. The 1793 epidemic did result in a clean up of the streets of the city, removing dead animals and rubbish, emptying barrels of stagnant water and anything that contributed to the stench around the harbor area. In doing this, the mosquito breeding grounds were reduced, and that brought better health to the city even though they did not know that mosquitos were carriers of the disease.
Even more interesting to me was the fact that George Washington, President of the United States at the time, was kept from making important decisions largely because Congress could not be convened anywhere other than Philadelphia.... and yet all governmental officials had fled the city because of the epidemic. The founding fathers had had a healthy fear of a king whimsically calling the government into session in some remotely located area, thus keeping the government from holding him accountable.... so they had pretty much said that Congress could only meet in Philadelphia. The epidemic meant that for 6 to 8 weeks, no one could conduct any governmental business! So after the epidemic, Congress did allow a provision that the president could call congress into session at another location in emergency situations.
It is interesting to note that the issue of whether the United States would support their former ally, France, in their revolution needed to be decided in exactly this time. Because Washington was unable to convene Congress, this approval was delayed. And by the time the epidemic was over, support for the French issue had waned.
May 21, 2020
Reading this I felt SO lucky to be in today's pandemic instead of the late 1700s with none of the modern conveniences , plus blood letting and other crazy stuff. But people are people- there are some who react badly and there are the heroes who step up. I have to agree with other reviewers who say this is not for kids, even though it seems to have won some children book awards. I didn't even notice that until now. weird. I just wonder how today's events will be viewed 300 years from now
July 8, 2008
Interesting history of Philadelphia at the time. Very readable history. The author made the book interesting while presenting a good historical narrative of the events.
July 7, 2019
I had no idea that our nation was so shaped by this disease. Murphy paints a vivid picture of the yellow fever’s terror and hopelessness that crippled our nation’s capital and precipitated a Constitutional crisis. Through the writings of doctors, authors, politicians, and clergymen he gives us first-hand glimpses of the times.
I really appreciated the author’s open discussion of the biblical motivation several of the most prominent volunteers had. It was really very inspiring. He was equally open about the racial motivations that compounded the tragedy. The leaders of the African-American community were truly inspiring in their selfless Christian response to those in need despite the ingratitude of the so many.
While it is a clean book, it is also a very gruesome book. It’s just the nature of the disease and the sheer number of dead. I would recommend it for a mature teen.
I really appreciated the author’s open discussion of the biblical motivation several of the most prominent volunteers had. It was really very inspiring. He was equally open about the racial motivations that compounded the tragedy. The leaders of the African-American community were truly inspiring in their selfless Christian response to those in need despite the ingratitude of the so many.
While it is a clean book, it is also a very gruesome book. It’s just the nature of the disease and the sheer number of dead. I would recommend it for a mature teen.
July 9, 2023
I'd had this book on my TBR for awhile and honestly thought it might be a little boring, so I kept putting off reading it. I was, thankfully, quite wrong. This book was pretty interesting - and full of so much information I'd had no idea about. Like, the fact that there was a big a** plague during the first few years of America (Miranda, why'd you leave this out of Hamilton??) Like, the fact that African American nurses basically saved white folk from dying off from this plague, because they'd had some immunity built up from their time before the colonial U.S. What a different country America would be had they not stepped in and helped out white Americans. (Maybe we'd still have affirmative action, or not have had slavery as long, or maybe not have hate groups running rampant through the country... just saying...)
September 10, 2019
It's horrifying how many people have been killed because of mosquitoes. Malaria still rates, and so many others. As this book points out, yellow fever is at bay, but could be a disaster waiting to happen. Most of this book discusses the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 in Philadelphia, which was the national capital at the time. The outbreak effectively shut down the federal government, the state government, and most local business. The book describes the effects of the disease itself, and on the community, and does an excellent job of showing the helpers. I found this informative and very readable.
July 3, 2021
This book tied in with a few other books I have read this year. It filled in the blanks from the two other books I read lately. I picked up this book after the book that Jim Murphy wrote about the great Chicago fire. I wanted to read some more books of his and this one was available.
This book reads a lot like a novel. The details are pretty interesting. The author ties up the end of the story by letting the reader know the odds of an outbreak like this happening again and the lack of medication for yellow fever these days.
This book reads a lot like a novel. The details are pretty interesting. The author ties up the end of the story by letting the reader know the odds of an outbreak like this happening again and the lack of medication for yellow fever these days.
April 6, 2025
Not my favorite book on the yellow fever epidemic in the 18th century but I still found it interesting.
December 28, 2009
"Sometimes...I lose myself in looking back upon the ocean which I have passed, and now and then find myself surprised by a tear in reflecting upon the friends I have lost, and the scenes of distress that I have witnessed, and which I was unable to relieve."
—Dr. Benjamin Rush, An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, P. 101
An American Plague has to be one of the finest juvenile non-fiction books to be published in a very long time.
Jim Murphy has a splendid affinity for the non-fiction genre, and for all that writing good non-fiction entails: massive, nuanced research from every person and group's perspective of every prominent incident involved; a sensitivity to the real emotions of the people who lived through the situations written about, knowing that just because it may have happened hundreds of years ago doesn't mean that they felt their emotions with any less passion than we would; an ability to relate true events with the cohesiveness of a gripping narrative while not straying from the way things really were; and still other crucial writing traits that are essential to the creation of masterful non-fiction such as An American Plague.
The story of this epidemic fever in 1793 Philadelphia is one of tragedy and of real, resounding personal heroism, of real fearful people whose terror of the dreaded yellow fever was enough to cause them to abandon family and friends, and of equally real people who girded themselves and nobly stayed the course, even at enormous personal risk to themselves and, in many cases, their loved ones. It's hard for us in contemporary times to imagine a family of fourteen kids or more all being killed in a matter of days by a single illness, but that is the reality that faced the residents of Philadelphia in the summer and fall of 1793. Jim Murphy brings this haunting reality to light for the modern reader with startling and often discomfiting clarity; to read An American Plague is to truly observe through the window of time the scene, as it was, when America's most severe epidemic began to attack.
Jim Murphy guides the reader through the entire epidemic and also through the miniature battles that were fought within it, especially the medical conflicts between Dr. Benjamin Rush and his followers and Dr. William Currie and his followers, battled out at a time when panic had thoroughly gripped the city of Philadelphia and all that the people wanted was someone who could step forward with a cure for their fatal scourge. The dramatics that resulted from the doctors' war of yellow fever theories add an intriguing and ever-present subplot to the book, and seem to affect almost everything that happens, to a certain extent.
One of the great things about this book is the author's profiling of a few magnificent American heroes who emerged to truly help the city of Philadelphia in its darkest hour; heroes who, for the most part, have now unfortunately receded into the anonymous shadows of history. That is quite sad, because these people absolutely are some of the most marvelous figures in all of American lore, I kid you not. In particular, the person of Israel Israel emerges as perhaps the ultimate hero, a man who put his own financial security at stake and went way beyond the call of duty that anyone could have ever had, to give the people and city of Philadelphia a chance to recover from its grueling plague. I came away from reading this book with a healthy reverence for Israel Israel and all that he did during the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of 1793.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American history, and in understanding the many and varied ways that past events such as this epidemic continue to affect the development of our nation. In many ways a yearling country is like a young person, and past traumatic events can lastingly sear their way into a young nation's psyche just as a child can be permanently damaged by painful occurrences in his or her own life. An American Plague is a fascinating and comprehensive historical account that contains information that should be of interest to nearly all readers.
—Dr. Benjamin Rush, An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, P. 101
An American Plague has to be one of the finest juvenile non-fiction books to be published in a very long time.
Jim Murphy has a splendid affinity for the non-fiction genre, and for all that writing good non-fiction entails: massive, nuanced research from every person and group's perspective of every prominent incident involved; a sensitivity to the real emotions of the people who lived through the situations written about, knowing that just because it may have happened hundreds of years ago doesn't mean that they felt their emotions with any less passion than we would; an ability to relate true events with the cohesiveness of a gripping narrative while not straying from the way things really were; and still other crucial writing traits that are essential to the creation of masterful non-fiction such as An American Plague.
The story of this epidemic fever in 1793 Philadelphia is one of tragedy and of real, resounding personal heroism, of real fearful people whose terror of the dreaded yellow fever was enough to cause them to abandon family and friends, and of equally real people who girded themselves and nobly stayed the course, even at enormous personal risk to themselves and, in many cases, their loved ones. It's hard for us in contemporary times to imagine a family of fourteen kids or more all being killed in a matter of days by a single illness, but that is the reality that faced the residents of Philadelphia in the summer and fall of 1793. Jim Murphy brings this haunting reality to light for the modern reader with startling and often discomfiting clarity; to read An American Plague is to truly observe through the window of time the scene, as it was, when America's most severe epidemic began to attack.
Jim Murphy guides the reader through the entire epidemic and also through the miniature battles that were fought within it, especially the medical conflicts between Dr. Benjamin Rush and his followers and Dr. William Currie and his followers, battled out at a time when panic had thoroughly gripped the city of Philadelphia and all that the people wanted was someone who could step forward with a cure for their fatal scourge. The dramatics that resulted from the doctors' war of yellow fever theories add an intriguing and ever-present subplot to the book, and seem to affect almost everything that happens, to a certain extent.
One of the great things about this book is the author's profiling of a few magnificent American heroes who emerged to truly help the city of Philadelphia in its darkest hour; heroes who, for the most part, have now unfortunately receded into the anonymous shadows of history. That is quite sad, because these people absolutely are some of the most marvelous figures in all of American lore, I kid you not. In particular, the person of Israel Israel emerges as perhaps the ultimate hero, a man who put his own financial security at stake and went way beyond the call of duty that anyone could have ever had, to give the people and city of Philadelphia a chance to recover from its grueling plague. I came away from reading this book with a healthy reverence for Israel Israel and all that he did during the Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of 1793.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in American history, and in understanding the many and varied ways that past events such as this epidemic continue to affect the development of our nation. In many ways a yearling country is like a young person, and past traumatic events can lastingly sear their way into a young nation's psyche just as a child can be permanently damaged by painful occurrences in his or her own life. An American Plague is a fascinating and comprehensive historical account that contains information that should be of interest to nearly all readers.
May 11, 2016
I was required to read An American Plague for one of my MLIS classes. This nonfiction book, written by Jim Murphy, was a quick and fascinating read. I had never learned about Philadelphia's 1793 yellow fever epidemic in school. Murphy supplies a vast amount of information about this interesting topic. The reader learns the symptoms of yellow fever and the various treatments doctors recommended to rid patients of the disease. Dr. Benjamin Rush's "ten-and-fifteen" purge was the most extreme and he even used it on himself twice. Other doctors were strongly opposed to Rush's self-proclaimed cure and instead used milder purges on their patients. At this time, Philadelphia was the capitol of the United States. President Washington fled without any of his papers, essentially shutting down the federal government for months. Those who could afford to leave the city did so. Unfortunately, poorer residents were left behind. Thankfully, some citizens stepped up to help their stricken neighbors. The Free African Society as well as Peter Helm and Stephen Girard, the volunteers who managed Bush Hill, were particularly helpful.
I liked that Murphy used excerpts from quotes to title his chapters. For example, chapter four's title came from the line about Bush Hill resembling "'a likeness in miniature of the city at the time, a scene of deep confusion and distress, not to say of utter desolation'" (Murphy, 2003, p. 40). I also appreciated his foreshadowing in terms of the mosquitos, such as Dr. Rush observing the sick had sores that "'resembled moscheto bites'" (Murphy, 2003, p. 15) and A.B. describing how to kill mosquitos on page 28. As thorough as Murphy was in writing An American Plague, I am still left with a few questions. I would like to know what percentage of those who contracted yellow fever died from it and how Philadelphia's subsequent outbreaks compared to the outbreak of 1793. I believe young adults will find this narrative nonfiction book informative and compelling and would hopefully enjoy reading it for a class or even for pleasure. I would pair it with other fiction and nonfiction works about yellow fever and other plagues and outbreaks around the world.
I liked that Murphy used excerpts from quotes to title his chapters. For example, chapter four's title came from the line about Bush Hill resembling "'a likeness in miniature of the city at the time, a scene of deep confusion and distress, not to say of utter desolation'" (Murphy, 2003, p. 40). I also appreciated his foreshadowing in terms of the mosquitos, such as Dr. Rush observing the sick had sores that "'resembled moscheto bites'" (Murphy, 2003, p. 15) and A.B. describing how to kill mosquitos on page 28. As thorough as Murphy was in writing An American Plague, I am still left with a few questions. I would like to know what percentage of those who contracted yellow fever died from it and how Philadelphia's subsequent outbreaks compared to the outbreak of 1793. I believe young adults will find this narrative nonfiction book informative and compelling and would hopefully enjoy reading it for a class or even for pleasure. I would pair it with other fiction and nonfiction works about yellow fever and other plagues and outbreaks around the world.
February 4, 2022
If you have no real knowledge of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia, this is a fine place to start. The Library of Congress has this book catalogued as history – juvenile. I didn’t realize that before I borrowed it, but it turns out, this was about as much information as I could handle on the subject.
In these COVID times, there were the unsurprising parallels to that long-ago health crisis. How the governing bodies attempted to contain the disease, while working to appear pro-active and competent. The scientific community forming camps. Heightening panic. (Needlessly) disinfecting objects coming into homes, like mail. And in the absence of a cure, suggestions to stay away from anyone with symptoms.
But there were also the unsung heroes. Namely, the Free African Society, an organization founded in 1787 for blacks by blacks, with the object of providing care and resources to its members who were destitute. Yellow fever was running rampant in the late summer 1793, and ailing citizens required help. Absalom Jones and Richard Allen led a truly noble group to minister to the sick and dying, regardless of color. A few Philadelphians recognized and lauded the group for their efforts. But tragically, these black men and women earned mostly censure and baseless accusations in exchange for their selflessness.
Though a somewhat superficial account, I come away with a collection of factoids that will serve as my basic knowledge of this piece of history. The descriptions of the disease were unsettling, and reading this didn’t do anything to alleviate my already intense hatred for the mosquito, but it was an interesting read nonetheless. I did appreciate (as I always do) learning about the people who were instrumental in one way or another, in the way historical events played out.
The author includes a lengthy “Sources” section, with no shortage of recommendations for further reading, if I ever change my mind. But I doubt it. He ends the book with a chapter titled “A Modern-Day Time Bomb,” in which he outlines the pretty unstoppable way mosquitos can spread infection, and America’s particular vulnerability to another outbreak. Not exactly bedtime-story stuff. So, proceed with caution.
In these COVID times, there were the unsurprising parallels to that long-ago health crisis. How the governing bodies attempted to contain the disease, while working to appear pro-active and competent. The scientific community forming camps. Heightening panic. (Needlessly) disinfecting objects coming into homes, like mail. And in the absence of a cure, suggestions to stay away from anyone with symptoms.
But there were also the unsung heroes. Namely, the Free African Society, an organization founded in 1787 for blacks by blacks, with the object of providing care and resources to its members who were destitute. Yellow fever was running rampant in the late summer 1793, and ailing citizens required help. Absalom Jones and Richard Allen led a truly noble group to minister to the sick and dying, regardless of color. A few Philadelphians recognized and lauded the group for their efforts. But tragically, these black men and women earned mostly censure and baseless accusations in exchange for their selflessness.
Though a somewhat superficial account, I come away with a collection of factoids that will serve as my basic knowledge of this piece of history. The descriptions of the disease were unsettling, and reading this didn’t do anything to alleviate my already intense hatred for the mosquito, but it was an interesting read nonetheless. I did appreciate (as I always do) learning about the people who were instrumental in one way or another, in the way historical events played out.
The author includes a lengthy “Sources” section, with no shortage of recommendations for further reading, if I ever change my mind. But I doubt it. He ends the book with a chapter titled “A Modern-Day Time Bomb,” in which he outlines the pretty unstoppable way mosquitos can spread infection, and America’s particular vulnerability to another outbreak. Not exactly bedtime-story stuff. So, proceed with caution.
May 31, 2011
In this 2004 Newbery Honor book, the author makes history come alive. As always, when I read a book wherein I learn about a particular subject, I'm intrigued to learn more.
The summer of 1793 brought death came to more than ten percent of the population of Philadelphia, PA. When the yellow fever abated, estimates are that at least five thousand died within a few months time.
This book is excellently researched and it meticulously portrays not only the devastation of the yellow fever, but in addition, the reader has a clear sense Philadelphia's role in the early beginnings of American democracy.
The summer was exceedingly hot, the mosquitoes were plentiful, the air was close and putrid as waste filled the streets and alleyways. For blocks the stench of waste permeated the air as a huge shipment of coffee rotted on the shipping dock.
Originally striking the poor, the rich believed themselves exempt. Though suddenly, the yellow fever showed no discrimination. Those wealthy enough to flee to the countryside did so, leaving a newly formed government struggling to dispose of waste, help those who were dying, and run the government with few officials.
President George Washington fled, and in doing so, a constitutional crisis ensued.
Admirably, there were heroes who could have left, but stayed behind to help the afflicted. Prominent doctors struggled to find the cause and cure for the sudden outbreak. Panic ensued as they argued, and as bodies piled high and as food supply became dangerously low, the social fabric fell apart.
On the front line was the Free African Society. Founded in 1787 with the mission to help members who were poor, this incredibly brave, self sacrificing group, nursed the sick, cared for the parent less children and buried the dead, sadly, tragically, history shows that despite their incredible efforts, they were later condemned for their contributions.
Highly recommended
The summer of 1793 brought death came to more than ten percent of the population of Philadelphia, PA. When the yellow fever abated, estimates are that at least five thousand died within a few months time.
This book is excellently researched and it meticulously portrays not only the devastation of the yellow fever, but in addition, the reader has a clear sense Philadelphia's role in the early beginnings of American democracy.
The summer was exceedingly hot, the mosquitoes were plentiful, the air was close and putrid as waste filled the streets and alleyways. For blocks the stench of waste permeated the air as a huge shipment of coffee rotted on the shipping dock.
Originally striking the poor, the rich believed themselves exempt. Though suddenly, the yellow fever showed no discrimination. Those wealthy enough to flee to the countryside did so, leaving a newly formed government struggling to dispose of waste, help those who were dying, and run the government with few officials.
President George Washington fled, and in doing so, a constitutional crisis ensued.
Admirably, there were heroes who could have left, but stayed behind to help the afflicted. Prominent doctors struggled to find the cause and cure for the sudden outbreak. Panic ensued as they argued, and as bodies piled high and as food supply became dangerously low, the social fabric fell apart.
On the front line was the Free African Society. Founded in 1787 with the mission to help members who were poor, this incredibly brave, self sacrificing group, nursed the sick, cared for the parent less children and buried the dead, sadly, tragically, history shows that despite their incredible efforts, they were later condemned for their contributions.
Highly recommended
January 5, 2008
A narration of the Yellow Fever outbreak in Philadelphia in 1793, which claimed the lives of between 4,000 and 5,000 men, women and children. It relates the medical practices of the day, such as blood-letting, the use of mercury and other remedies considered of questionable (at best) value today. It contains pictures and illustrations, including pages from a list compiled of the dead.
This is a very sobering read, especially after Hurricane Katrina. Teens won’t miss parallels between then, with the plague, and now, with the hurricane: The complete breakdown in government, the lack of coordination between various groups, the lack of foresight and more. The events are told in straightforward style, and includes a chapter on how this could happen today. The implications are pretty frightening. It also showed the flaws in our early government; George Washington is portrayed as a man with faults as well as strengths; he is not the whitewashed saint as he is too-often portrayed. But it also shows the incredible courage of the volunteers who risked their lives to offer aid to the sick and dying.
My one small nit is I wished a couple of the shorter letters could have been translated, for the handwriting was very difficult to make out.
Good for 13 and up.
This is a very sobering read, especially after Hurricane Katrina. Teens won’t miss parallels between then, with the plague, and now, with the hurricane: The complete breakdown in government, the lack of coordination between various groups, the lack of foresight and more. The events are told in straightforward style, and includes a chapter on how this could happen today. The implications are pretty frightening. It also showed the flaws in our early government; George Washington is portrayed as a man with faults as well as strengths; he is not the whitewashed saint as he is too-often portrayed. But it also shows the incredible courage of the volunteers who risked their lives to offer aid to the sick and dying.
My one small nit is I wished a couple of the shorter letters could have been translated, for the handwriting was very difficult to make out.
Good for 13 and up.
December 10, 2019
This was packed with so much information I never heard of before. I’ve read one book about the plague in another city. Both books are similar in information however this one gives a lot more interesting info. Highly recommend this.
February 13, 2017
Pair this with Laurie Halse Anderson's novel Fever 1793.
December 21, 2012
Boring, simplistic, not well organized....even unclear. I hope it is not given to children to read.
May 21, 2016
quick and informative read. ditch the last chapter tho. its not *ABOUT* the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793.
July 12, 2020
I’ve had this book for years and YEARS and it took an actual pandemic to get me to read it 😂
Ahem... I will now list details of the circumstances surrounding the 1793 Yellow Fever that, to a discerning reader, might strike a startling resemblance to our Current Situation.
* When the first people were diagnosed, the rest just ignored or shrugged it off—there were more important things happening, like ✨politics✨
* Doctors stepped up to help society, while local gov leaders were ineffective in helping
* Poor people were left defenseless (In this case, they couldn’t just pick up and leave Philadelphia like the wealthy)
* QUARANTINING THE SICK
* PEOPLE SELF-IMPOSED SOCIAL DISTANCING BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZED THEIR OWN MORTALITY
* “I know of but one certain preventative of the disorder, & that is to keep at a distance from infected persons and places.” – Dr. Benjamin Rush (and these were a people that still believed in humorism!)
* Schools closed
* Unfounded advice for treatments abounded
* Growing poverty because of sudden lack of income
* Price gouging for common goods (read: food)
* Limited space in hospitals
* Doctors risking their lives to care for patients
✨And now for a brief astronomical intermission✨
AND THEN THERE’S A METEORITE FALLING FROM THE SKY. What is this, the prequel to 2020? Anyway...
* Mass graves
* Increase in crime/rioting
* Landlords raising rent, then evicting tenants that can’t pay
* Impromptu committee tried to help renters with “small cash advances,” that in some instances “only lined the pockets of the greedy” 👀
* Blame put on foreigners
Brief tangent on how the Free Africans Society are the real heroes of this story:
So all the white political leaders and affluent citizens are just fleeing Philadelphia, even President GW himself. And at the time, there are about 3,200 black people in this super racist city (where slavery’s still very much A Thing). Misinformation gets spread that they’re more “resistant” to the yellow fever than white people (spoiler alert: they weren’t) and they didn’t even have all the resources rich white people did. And DESPITE ALL THAT the Free African Society was “the one and only group to step forward and offer its services” to aid fever victims. Didn’t even get paid often. Not enough nurses available? Highest bidder gets medical care. Then oc they get blamed/abused/attacked because their costs went up while *literally everyone else* in the city increased their prices too (Remember the price gouging I mentioned?). Even though it’s the white patients who were causing the price increase by doing the bidding. They helped those who had nobody else, while of course it’s the famous white doctor that gets the attention for his quack tactics. Yet 300+ black nurses continued to save lives until scores inevitably caught the disease themselves. FAS are the real heroes here.
Now back to our regularly scheduled broadcast:
* Poor data reporting
* Cases lessen, people think it’s safe to go out and about again, then Surpise! cases return!
* Poorer areas suffered worst but no infrastructure was erected to fix this in the future
* Political squabble ensues in the wake of the epidemic
* And, needless to say... 🌸There’s no known cure🌸
Ultimately, Yellow Fever was discovered to be transmitted by mosquitos, so it’s not totally comparable to what’s happening today, but considering that the closing paragraph predicts devastating future outbreaks, I wonder what the author thinks of the current situation.
tl;dr Has America really changed much in 200+ years? I’ll let you decide.
Ahem... I will now list details of the circumstances surrounding the 1793 Yellow Fever that, to a discerning reader, might strike a startling resemblance to our Current Situation.
* When the first people were diagnosed, the rest just ignored or shrugged it off—there were more important things happening, like ✨politics✨
* Doctors stepped up to help society, while local gov leaders were ineffective in helping
* Poor people were left defenseless (In this case, they couldn’t just pick up and leave Philadelphia like the wealthy)
* QUARANTINING THE SICK
* PEOPLE SELF-IMPOSED SOCIAL DISTANCING BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZED THEIR OWN MORTALITY
* “I know of but one certain preventative of the disorder, & that is to keep at a distance from infected persons and places.” – Dr. Benjamin Rush (and these were a people that still believed in humorism!)
* Schools closed
* Unfounded advice for treatments abounded
* Growing poverty because of sudden lack of income
* Price gouging for common goods (read: food)
* Limited space in hospitals
* Doctors risking their lives to care for patients
✨And now for a brief astronomical intermission✨
AND THEN THERE’S A METEORITE FALLING FROM THE SKY. What is this, the prequel to 2020? Anyway...
* Mass graves
* Increase in crime/rioting
* Landlords raising rent, then evicting tenants that can’t pay
* Impromptu committee tried to help renters with “small cash advances,” that in some instances “only lined the pockets of the greedy” 👀
* Blame put on foreigners
Brief tangent on how the Free Africans Society are the real heroes of this story:
So all the white political leaders and affluent citizens are just fleeing Philadelphia, even President GW himself. And at the time, there are about 3,200 black people in this super racist city (where slavery’s still very much A Thing). Misinformation gets spread that they’re more “resistant” to the yellow fever than white people (spoiler alert: they weren’t) and they didn’t even have all the resources rich white people did. And DESPITE ALL THAT the Free African Society was “the one and only group to step forward and offer its services” to aid fever victims. Didn’t even get paid often. Not enough nurses available? Highest bidder gets medical care. Then oc they get blamed/abused/attacked because their costs went up while *literally everyone else* in the city increased their prices too (Remember the price gouging I mentioned?). Even though it’s the white patients who were causing the price increase by doing the bidding. They helped those who had nobody else, while of course it’s the famous white doctor that gets the attention for his quack tactics. Yet 300+ black nurses continued to save lives until scores inevitably caught the disease themselves. FAS are the real heroes here.
Now back to our regularly scheduled broadcast:
* Poor data reporting
* Cases lessen, people think it’s safe to go out and about again, then Surpise! cases return!
* Poorer areas suffered worst but no infrastructure was erected to fix this in the future
* Political squabble ensues in the wake of the epidemic
* And, needless to say... 🌸There’s no known cure🌸
Ultimately, Yellow Fever was discovered to be transmitted by mosquitos, so it’s not totally comparable to what’s happening today, but considering that the closing paragraph predicts devastating future outbreaks, I wonder what the author thinks of the current situation.
tl;dr Has America really changed much in 200+ years? I’ll let you decide.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2017
An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 by Jim Murphy is an informational text that brings the epidemic alive in such detail that you can feel the sorrow and fear on every page. The story begins by explaining how the public sewer and water system in Philadelphia in the late 1700s could lead to such an outbreak. They had an open sewer system and the dead animals, spoiled food and waste ran down channels right beside the roads where citizens lived and worked. On August 3rd,1793 the first death from Yellow Fever was recorded in Philadelphia. From that day the fever spread fast and indiscriminately through the city. The symptoms began as chills, headache and back ache and spread to yellow tint to skin, nose, gums and intestinal bleeding and black vomit. Since Philadelphia was the temporary capital of our young nation the epidemic all but shut down the government. Lots of people were fleeing the city, including President George Washington.
This book is written with each chapter starting with a date. At first you can feel the panic of each week moving forward. As the fever sets in and then wanes the chapters are written in months
There is a theme of confusion consistent on each page as politicians and doctors scramble to find causes and treatment of the fever with very little success. While no one knows the exact number, it is estimated that around 5,000 men, women and children fell victim to the fever between August and December of 1793.
The author concludes the book revealing the world wide impact of Yellow Fever. He also reveals the cause- mosquitos. He does a thorough job of explaining how this cause was discovered and the work countries have done to fight it's spread. He also warns that there is still no cure and questions what could happen if there was an epidemic today.
This book would be a fascinating read aloud that students would be hanging on each page. The imagery, details and personal stories the author uses are great at helping students imagine what it must have been like to live in Philadelphia during that terrible time.
This book is written with each chapter starting with a date. At first you can feel the panic of each week moving forward. As the fever sets in and then wanes the chapters are written in months
There is a theme of confusion consistent on each page as politicians and doctors scramble to find causes and treatment of the fever with very little success. While no one knows the exact number, it is estimated that around 5,000 men, women and children fell victim to the fever between August and December of 1793.
The author concludes the book revealing the world wide impact of Yellow Fever. He also reveals the cause- mosquitos. He does a thorough job of explaining how this cause was discovered and the work countries have done to fight it's spread. He also warns that there is still no cure and questions what could happen if there was an epidemic today.
This book would be a fascinating read aloud that students would be hanging on each page. The imagery, details and personal stories the author uses are great at helping students imagine what it must have been like to live in Philadelphia during that terrible time.
February 26, 2020
This interesting book is a short but thorough and entertaining recounting of the yellow fever epidemic that took place in Philadelphia in 1793, when the U.S. was still in its infancy. Philadelphia was the new country's capital at the time and President George Washington was in residence. To go along with the epidemic, there was also a constitutional crisis, as the city was abandoned by the not-poor including the President. Can Congress be convened anywhere but at the capital? was the question of the day.
The epidemic shut down all places where people gathered - churches, markets, businesses. Since no one knew either a cause or a cure for yellow fever, there were all kinds of quack remedies and patent nostrums being hawked as palliatives, and no FDA to control their claim. There was a shortage of doctors, practically no trained nurses, and a lot of panic. This was the era of blister, bleed, and purge in terms of medical philosophy, which didn’t help anyone, either. Author Murphy discusses the kind of cures attempted, and the doctors who used them. Philadelphia recovered, eventually, but yellow fever remained a scourge throughout the East Coast and South well into the early 1900s, as it was world-wide.
This book is written for young adults, and would be a great introduction to the story of contagious and epidemic diseases. The writing is lively and the illustrations are interesting, especially the images of contemporary newspaper pages. There is still no cure for yellow fever, but there is a very effective vaccine. An excellent read, for any age group. In the final chapters, the author sums up modern advances in the prevention of yellow fever (kill mosquitoes!), and how it still affects millions of people in countries world-wide.
The epidemic shut down all places where people gathered - churches, markets, businesses. Since no one knew either a cause or a cure for yellow fever, there were all kinds of quack remedies and patent nostrums being hawked as palliatives, and no FDA to control their claim. There was a shortage of doctors, practically no trained nurses, and a lot of panic. This was the era of blister, bleed, and purge in terms of medical philosophy, which didn’t help anyone, either. Author Murphy discusses the kind of cures attempted, and the doctors who used them. Philadelphia recovered, eventually, but yellow fever remained a scourge throughout the East Coast and South well into the early 1900s, as it was world-wide.
This book is written for young adults, and would be a great introduction to the story of contagious and epidemic diseases. The writing is lively and the illustrations are interesting, especially the images of contemporary newspaper pages. There is still no cure for yellow fever, but there is a very effective vaccine. An excellent read, for any age group. In the final chapters, the author sums up modern advances in the prevention of yellow fever (kill mosquitoes!), and how it still affects millions of people in countries world-wide.
November 6, 2018
After listening to this on audiobook, I have a hard time believing it was written for children. Even as an adult who's interested in history, I found it very dry and sometimes hard to follow. 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.
Also, after spending the entire book concentrating on this one outbreak in 1793 Philadelphia, the last chapter traces the progress that's been made in understanding and combating yellow fever up to the present day. I didn't have a problem with this until the very end of the chapter when the author veers off the factual account and starts speculating about how terrible an outbreak of yellow fever in unprepared modern-day America would be. The picture painted is enough to strike fear into the hearts of anyone, and it's presented with a sense of almost inevitability, but we're never presented with any kind of evidence that this is the real threat the author seems to think (other than, "it's still out there, and we can't escape it forever"). Totally unnecessary and quite disturbing.
Also, after spending the entire book concentrating on this one outbreak in 1793 Philadelphia, the last chapter traces the progress that's been made in understanding and combating yellow fever up to the present day. I didn't have a problem with this until the very end of the chapter when the author veers off the factual account and starts speculating about how terrible an outbreak of yellow fever in unprepared modern-day America would be. The picture painted is enough to strike fear into the hearts of anyone, and it's presented with a sense of almost inevitability, but we're never presented with any kind of evidence that this is the real threat the author seems to think (other than, "it's still out there, and we can't escape it forever"). Totally unnecessary and quite disturbing.
November 7, 2018
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. An American Plague does just this. You live the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 through the eyes of a character who could quite possibly have lived through it. This is an amazing informational read because although the character is fictional, there are tons of facts about the time period and plague that lead you to believe that this person could have possibly lived through this hectic time.
Epidemic's, diseases, and sicknesses have always been something that really intrigues me. How they start, how the progress, and what ultimately kills them off and how we can prevent them is one of the coolest parts of modern science. While this period was one of the worst in medical history, we learn so much from the events that occur and can help prevent them in the future.
As stated, although the main character in this book is fictional, there were so many facts that encompassed his experience that it felt real and that this was firsthand experience. You learn so much about the period, how things broke out, the fear in the public, and how it came to an end and was prevented in the future. The book does a great job of giving you that perspective of living through the time period, learning as you move and filling your emotions as the character lives through the chaos.
Epidemic's, diseases, and sicknesses have always been something that really intrigues me. How they start, how the progress, and what ultimately kills them off and how we can prevent them is one of the coolest parts of modern science. While this period was one of the worst in medical history, we learn so much from the events that occur and can help prevent them in the future.
As stated, although the main character in this book is fictional, there were so many facts that encompassed his experience that it felt real and that this was firsthand experience. You learn so much about the period, how things broke out, the fear in the public, and how it came to an end and was prevented in the future. The book does a great job of giving you that perspective of living through the time period, learning as you move and filling your emotions as the character lives through the chaos.
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