Spanish Influenza
The Great Spanish Influenza Epidemic took more lives than the Great War. It is known as the greatest and deadliest disease that has ever been recorded. In the years 1918 to 1919 it killed about 675,000 people world wide. Approximately 3,733 Montanans died and half of those deaths were between 20-40 years of age. The local newspaper, The Fallon County Times, reported and detailed several stories of individuals who had succumbed to the illness as well as advice to combat the illness. Some of the remedies mentioned were to drink whiskey and to make the air humid by running a hot tea kettle all the time. One story detailed a doctor that was held at gunpoint by a rancher because his family had influenza and he couldn’t wait any longer for medical treatment for his family. It says that the doctor was hastily on his way to help other patients. He was driving past a farm on the way to his destination and he saw a farmer waving his hat in the distance down his driveway. So the doctor pulled in and the farmer asked him to help his family and it was very urgent. The doctor said he was on his way to help other patients and would be on his way back around in about a half an hour. The farmer said he needed care right away and couldn’t let him go, so he pulled out his six-shooter and told the doctor to come inside. The doctor happily obliged to help and prescribed the whole family for medications. The farmer was all apologies and gratitude after the doctor aided his family. The farmer insisted on paying the full bill right away.
Credits: Macy Varner and Shayne Burkhalter
Citations:
Montana DPHS, illustrator. 2018 Immunization Regional Workshop.
Montana Historical Society. “Doctor Held up at Gun Point.” Fallon County Times [Baker MT], 28 Nov. 1918. Fallon County Times, montananewspapers.org/lccn/sn84036037/1918-11-28/ed-1/seq-8/#date1=1918&city=Baker&rows=20&words=influenza+INFLUENZA&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=15&date2=1918&proxtext=influenza&dateFilterType=year&page=1. Accessed 28 Novmeber 1918.
Citations:
Montana DPHS, illustrator. 2018 Immunization Regional Workshop.
Montana Historical Society. “Doctor Held up at Gun Point.” Fallon County Times [Baker MT], 28 Nov. 1918. Fallon County Times, montananewspapers.org/lccn/sn84036037/1918-11-28/ed-1/seq-8/#date1=1918&city=Baker&rows=20&words=influenza+INFLUENZA&searchType=basic&sequence=0&index=15&date2=1918&proxtext=influenza&dateFilterType=year&page=1. Accessed 28 Novmeber 1918.