1918 Pandemic Hits Lorain – Part 3

October 1918 was said to be the deadliest month of the Spanish Flu pandemic in America. According to an article on www.history.com, 195,000 Americans lost their lives that month due to the flu.

In the October 15, 1918 Times-Herald, the retiring health officer, Dr. Valloyd Adair, noted that the situation was ‘grave.’

“The situation is more serious than people realize,” he stated. “We must do something to check the spread of the disease. It will be better to act than to permit this thing to go on and to lose the lives of a number of our citizens.”

In a small capsule summary of statistics related to “The Influenza Situation,” the paper noted that there were five deaths to date, with two deaths reported on Monday, and three that day.

The October 16, 1919 Times-Herald noted that the city had to modify its order regarding restaurants. Instead of ordering them closed along with other businesses, the city allowed them to be open until 7:30 in the evening to feed the working men “who cannot get there before that hour.”

By the time of the October 17, 1918 edition of the paper, many of the actions taken by the city to contain the flu resembled what we have been experiencing with the Coronavirus. 

“HEALTH ORDER BANS PARTIES” was the heading of an article in which Mayor A. J. Horn “sounded a warning to all persons who hold parties or social gatherings, that such affairs are in violation of the influenza regulations, established by the health authorities. The police have authority under the state law to arrest any persons participating in such events while the ban on meetings is in force.

“This order applies to meetings in homes as well as in lodge halls. The holding of parties or social affairs is unpatriotic." 

Three more deaths were reported in the October 18, 1918 Times-Herald, bringing the total to 12.

By the time of the October 19th edition (below), the total number of deaths had jumped to nineteen.

The influenza began to share headline space with the rapidly winding down war. “EPIDEMIC SITUATION BECOMES ALARMING – 3,000 CASES IN CITY, 10 DEATHS TODAY” screamed the Monday, October 21, 1918 edition of the Times-Herald. 

As reported in the October 22, 1918 edition of the paper (below), Lorain received some much-needed help from the federal government in the form of Dr. Henry E. Koch of Cincinnati, "expert hygienist connected with the United States health department.” 

As an article noted, “Dr. Koch will co-operate with the board of health. The city officials have placed themselves at his disposal and, commencing this morning, prompt, efficient methods will be used to battle the disease.

“As one of the first steps the high school was taken over to be used as a temporary hospital.

“All patients in the city who can be moved will be taken to the high school or to St. Joseph’s hospital. Suspects will be taken to the high school and placed in observation wards until it is determined whether they are afflicted with the disease.

Seven more deaths were reported in the October 23, 1918 Times-Herald, bringing the total to 41.

A note of optimism was reflected in the October 24th edition, with the hope that the influenza epidemic would reach its crest that week. Eight more deaths were reported.

Also on that front page was the mention of something near and dear to all of us living in the age of the Coronavirus: masks. Under the heading, “Here’s Way Of Making Flu Masks,” an article explained the process a housewife could follow “in the work of making masks for her family.

“Eight thicknesses of gauze about five inches wide, are soaked over night in a solution of bi-chloride of mercury, a quart of water to one tablet of bichloride. Loops of tape fasten the mask in place over the ears and strings sewed to the loops are tied behind the head so there is no danger of the mask slipping.

“The masks may be used until worn out. They should be boiled in water ten minutes or sterilized in a bi-chloride of mercury solution each night and as often as possible. They may then be dried and used again."