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An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 (Newbery Honor Book) Review

Philadelphia in 1793 had about 60,000 people. In August of that year, the city was struck with a particularly severe epidemic of yellow fever, a nasty hemorrhagic type similar to Ebola. This book tells, in perhaps more detail than middle school readers will want, the story of that epidemic, and explains what we now know about the disease which still kills about 100 million people a year worldwide.

Yellow fever is a scary disease, and has been around a long time. In the 18th century, many American cities were swept with it. Victims died within days or weeks, and suffered horribly. The medical practices of the time were useless (bloodletting was common). People believed that disease spread through bad or noxious air (hence mal aria), but the virus for yellow fever, like that of malaria, is spread through the female aedes aegypti mosquito. Eliminate the breeding grounds for aedes and you eliminate the disease. Unfortunately, Philadelphia of 1783 had abundant breeding grounds for mosquitoes. The city had no covered sewers, but only a series of "sinks" -- open holes dug at intervals to catch runoff water (and whatever else was thrown in). In addition, the Delaware River was nearby, and open rain barrels existed by the tens of thousands.

Murphy tells the story of the anarchy which resulted from the disease that year. Thousands of people died over a few months; most city officials fled if they could. Newspapers stopped printing, food shipments stopped, efficient and dignified body disposal became impossible. Some brave people fought, namely a group of black non-citizens: they formed a first-response squad to tend the sick and dying. Eventually the epidemic ended, and Philadelphia went back to being a bustling city. No one suggested a link between mosquitoes and yellow fever until 1848; the theory was dismissed and remained untested until 1900.

The pace is methodical here, and the research is thorough. Murphy includes numerous photo images of historical documents, including the local directory, lists of the dead, and newspaper pages. Kids get few chances to behold 18th-century printed pages during their time in school, so this volume makes a vital contribution. The book might appeal to readers who like the 1955 non-fiction Newbery winner Men, Microscopes, and Living Things by Katherine Binney Shippen. Young readers fascinated by medical practices of the past should be steered to Karen Cushman's The Midwife's Apprentice (1995), and (in high school) to Sinclair Lewis' Arrowsmith (1925) and Somerset Maugham's Of Human Bondage (1915).

An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 (Newbery Honor Book) Feature

ISBN13: 9780395776087
Condition: New
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An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 (Newbery Honor Book) Overview

1793, Philadelphia. The nation"s capital and the largest city in North America is devastated by an apparently incurable disease, cause unknown . . .
In a powerful, dramatic narrative, critically acclaimed author 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.

Thoroughly researched, generously illustrated with fascinating archival prints, and unflinching in its discussion of medical details, this book offers a glimpse into the conditions of American cities at the time of our nation"s birth while drawing timely parallels to modern-day epidemics. Bibliography, map, index.

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Customer Reviews

A Great Read! - Leslie S. - New Hampshire
I will put it briefly. It is a fascinating read and an interesting glimpse into a rarely covered topic in American history! Buy the book and give yourself a treat. (And you don't have to be school-aged to enjoy it! I'm the Mom and couldn't put it down!)

the american plague the terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 - Regina Fleming Burch - charlotte nc usa
this book was kind of ok to me i rated it a 4 because it wasn't the best book I've read it could be better . It was kind of intresting when I found out how they got the name and who studied the disease and found some what of a cure and how many people died from this dreadful illness , I felt kind of sad because, I know that some of those people were my ancestors and they died because of this illness that they took many years to find a cure to it.thanks fo listening or reading my review.
ttyl

Companion to Fever 1793 - J. Guild - OKC OK

I had my students reading Fever 1793. I came across this book and bought it. It gave actual facts and more in-depth information. Several of my 8th graders read parts of it. I have several other Jim Murphy books. He is great for middle school.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 10, 2010 11:20:05

Children's Books

Tuesday, August 10, 2010