An American Plague by Jim Murphy

Genre: Nonfiction
Themes: Epidemics, health, death
Grade Level: Young Adult
Curricular Connections: History, Health

As the title says, this is the true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic that struck Philadelphia in 1793. Drawing in famous people of the time - George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, as Philadelphia was then capital of the United States - and events, the book begins with the first related sicknesses in August of 1793. Eight deaths in one week between two neighboring houses went basically unnoticed. By October, 80-120 people were dying daily. As more was learned, laws were passed in an attempt to keep disease from spreading such as keeping the streets free of "offensive-smelling matter" and providing cleaner water supplies. Facts are presented that the epidemic may have rescued the United States from revolution over tensions with France - an opinion held by John Adams. People's minds were on the disease and not politics. The epidemic began to fade by the end of October.

The final chapter of the book tells of other epidemics including yellow fever in 1858 in New York, what was learned over the years about the disease, and medical treatments. (My favorite: "Keep cool! Avoid patent medicines and bad whiskey! Go about your business as usual; be cheerful and laugh as much as possible." Good advice, regardless of impending disease!)

Classroom Suggestions:

1. Study the historical implications as presented in the book and research additional facts about related topics. (The French Revolution, the presidency of George Washington, Philadelphia as the nation's capital, etc.)

2. Study the public reaction in 1793. Compare it to the public reactions of other epidemics. Research what the CDC recommends in case of an epidemic, and predict what the public reaction would be, both to the disease and CDC recommendations.

3. Record the changes in medicine. What major discoveries were learned concerning medication, prevention, cleanliness, etc.? When? What were the results of each?