Talk:1793 Philadelphia yellow fever epidemic

Format

The Format of this page has been severely changed for the worse. What happened? Rfts (talk) 03:48, 26 November 2009 (UTC)

This page needs to broaden its sources. I wrote about the epidemic several years ago and since then, thanks to Google Books, many of the primary sources I used are now available on-line. Let me add that fever was the cancer of that day and the books and pamphlets written on the epidemics are many and prolix. If I ever get the time it would be fun to try to redo the page based on those sources alone. In my own writing, the private letters of the period, especially Rush's and a thick file of letters written by Quakers formed my take on the epidemic. Unfortunately, with Wikipedia style editing demanding strict sourcing, it is rather difficult to get to that reality of the epidemic because the sources are not published, save for most of the letters Rush wrote. Perhaps more important are the letters written to him. Bob Arnebeck (what I wrote on Rush and the several yellow fever epidemics he fought is at http://bobarnebeck.com/fever1793.html) Arnebeck (talk) 02:46, 10 November 2009 (UTC)

Vandalized?

vandalized. it said the fever outbreak was in 1762 and the page is dated (you know what i mean i don't have time to explain) in 1793 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.44.25.158 (talk) 20:37, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

Needs review and editing

This whole page needs to be reviewed and edited for both grammar and readability, particularly towards the end. It reads like a child's school report in places. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.57.150.59 (talk) 18:45, 5 April 2009 (UTC)

That is because the main reference is Murphy's An American Plague. This book is rated for grades 6-10. A better one is The American Plague by Molly Crosby. There are others on Yellow fever, including Bring Out Your Dead: The Great Plague Of Yellow Fever In Philadelphia In 1793 by J. H. Powell. In addition, the section on Afro-Americans as nurses is wrong. It gives the impression that the Afro-Americans were charging high rates to be nurses, even Murphy's book makes it clear that it was mostly white Americans who were doing this. I've read both as well as others on yellow fever in America. The statement that Napoleon sent 33,000 troops to "America" to establish claims to New Orleans also gives the wrong impression that that is where they went. They were sent to Santo Domingo (present day Haiti and the Dominican Republic) where they and numerous reinforcements died. I gave up editing WP pages on this disease when some of my work on Yellow Fever was deleted off that page and I discovered it too late to do an "Undo." Now I just stick to insects and military history. Thomas R. Fasulo (talk) 02:43, 22 May 2009 (UTC)

Grotesque oversight

This page referring to the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793 is sorely lacking. Nowhere are the contributions that the Free African Society made to the city mentioned. Mistreated and abused by their white “equals,” they still had no hesitation to help the whites when many other whites fled the city in fear. The society volunteered their time, money, and risked their lives to help their fellow man, woman, and child. The strong and courageous leaders of this organization, Absalom Jones and Richard Allen personally walked the plague ridden streets to find where they were most needed. Richard Allen even contracted the illness himself. Only one hero of this story has been highlighted in this encyclopedia, Israel Israel. It is true that he did his fair share of helping the sickly, dying, and homeless; however, he certainly is not the only person that deserves praise or glorification. One of your listed references, An American Plague by Jim Murphy, contains all of the necessary information on the contributions the Free African Society made during this dark time in American history. I am not African American but still I am an American as were the woman and men of the Free African Society who sacrificed so much to return right back to the bottom of the heap in social standing as soon as the plague faltered. These people were the true Americans during this epidemic, as were many others not highlighted in your article. It was somewhat expected back then that they would never receive the gratitude of those who safely waiting out the epidemic far from the city. But in the year 2010 to still not have all their efforts seen, heard, and appreciated is a further tragedy. So what needs to be done is historically accurate, balanced, and fair mention of all those who pulled America out from the brink of destruction. Starting with the Free African Society who deserve the right to have their heroic actions acknowledged. Thank you, Jodi —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.146.150.69 (talk) 10:36, 10 January 2010 (UTC)

Coastal city of Philadelphia?

I live in Philly and I have to drive an hour and a half to get, as the locals say, down the shore.

I have changed this to port city.