General Discussion

frogmarch

(12,153 posts)

28. Thanks for the headsup. I will

Wed Feb 22, 2012, 04:02 PM

Feb 2012

watch it.

Because of one doctor's actions, St. Louis wasn't hit as bad as most other places.

snip: http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/dailyrft/2009/04/st_louis_response_to_spanish_influenza_of_1918_saved_thousands_of_lives.php

Over at stltoday.com, reporter Tim O'Neil has the interesting tale of how a local doctor managed to save thousands of lives in St. Louis during the Spanish influenza pandemic of 1918 that claimed tens of millions of lives worldwide.

Dr. Max C. Starkloff, the city health commissioner back then, convinced Mayor Henry Kiel to close all schools, churches, theaters and dance halls following the first evidence of the flu in St. Louis. Starkloff's decision didn't win him many friends among the business and religious community, at least not initially.

Per the stltoday.com article:
Starkloff's strategy was "social distancing," the simple practice of keeping people away from one another. During the brief but deadly sweep of the flu that fall, the death rate in St. Louis was 2.8 per 1,000 residents, lowest among the nation's major cities. The rate was 8.0 in Pittsburgh, 7.6 in San Francisco and 7.1 in Kansas City.

Businessmen whose sales plunged beseeched City Hall to loosen the rules. Catholic Archbishop (later Cardinal) John J. Glennon urged Starkloff to reopen the churches. But the son of a German-born doctor held firm and had the trust of Mayor Kiel, who told Starkloff, "I don't want anyone to die. Therefore, I shall support you."

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Highlight:

I just watched this PBS Special on line about the 1918 influenza outbreak.... [View all] WCGreen Feb 2012 OP

People used to die of many infectious diseases and suffer from parasites like lice FarCenter Feb 2012 #1

My grandmother's oldest almost died of that flu as an infant. eShirl Feb 2012 #2

The only grand parent I remember was my mothers mother madokie Feb 2012 #3

my Great Great Grandfather was in the Union Army.... WCGreen Feb 2012 #6

Interesting..... matmar Feb 2012 #7

they as a family had already pretty much told the slaves they were workers madokie Feb 2012 #21

History is pretty complicated. Bruce Wayne Feb 2012 #23

My grampap almost died from that flu epidemic. blue neen Feb 2012 #4

How sad but how sweet that he kept Vivian with him.... WCGreen Feb 2012 #5

My grandmother's true love died in the 1918 flu before they could marry. enough Feb 2012 #8

Yes, my Polish Grand mother talked about her brother dying from the flu... WCGreen Feb 2012 #9

That flu saved my father's life. Loudmxr Feb 2012 #10

"Spanish Flu" was the subject of the penultimate Downton Abbey frazzled Feb 2012 #11

Thanks for the link. I'm currently reading a book on viral... Javaman Feb 2012 #12

Totally a matter of 'when'. laundry_queen Feb 2012 #14

During flu season, I tell my office mates how to avoid getting the flu... Javaman Feb 2012 #19

I read this yesterday Mojorabbit Feb 2012 #31

That was something the aforementioned "Downton Abbey" got right JoDog Feb 2012 #17

That's called a cytokene storm. And the Spanish Flu did mostly kill younger folks kaiden Feb 2012 #29

Interesting. I watched a show about it once too laundry_queen Feb 2012 #13

We lived in a big city and they told me about the caskets would be out lining the streets somedays lunasun Feb 2012 #15

My Penn grandparents both lived into their late 80's.... WCGreen Feb 2012 #16

my paternal grandparents were born in 1918. pansypoo53219 Feb 2012 #18

thanks, and hugs, to everybody who's posted their stories here renate Feb 2012 #20

Lung infection.... WCGreen Feb 2012 #24

oh dear... renate Feb 2012 #27

They just put a pic in so I can get the Anti biotics right to the infection... WCGreen Feb 2012 #34

good news! renate Feb 2012 #35

My grandmother died from it in 1918, frogmarch Feb 2012 #22

If you get a chance to view the show... WCGreen Feb 2012 #25

Thanks for the headsup. I will frogmarch Feb 2012 #28

Cool... WCGreen Feb 2012 #33

My father and his siblings survived it Lydia Leftcoast Feb 2012 #26

Hmmm TuxedoKat Feb 2012 #30

Very good point treestar Feb 2012 #32

I had an uncle who had the Spanish flu and survived. mohinoaklawnillinois Feb 2012 #36