So since we all had a 4000-5000 word paper to write, I decided to share a little of mine, the Yellow Fever epidemic!

In 1793, Philadelphia was considered the second largest city in the nation. It had a population of about 28,500 people. That summer the city was unusually hot. The surrounding waters reduced and the city was in a drought. This environment was perfect for the breeding of insects. That July, the city contained swarms of flies and mosquitoes closest to the water. Mosquitoes were known to easily spread disease. Also in that month, hundreds of immigrants were making their way into Philadelphia from the Caribbean by ship. Those very immigrants brought with them Yellow Fever.

People in the city began feeling terribly ill. Victims of Yellow Fever often had high fevers, bloody bile, burning sensations in the stomach, head, back, and limb pains. As the disease became more severe, the eye balls would turn a shade of yellow, and the skin purple. These symptoms would disappear, reappear, and eventually lead to death.

Philadelphia's leading physician at the time, Dr. Benjamin Rush, tried his hardest to save the victims. He was unsuccessful. Doctors guessed at the causes of the disease but were totally unaware. Dr. Rush advised the people of Philadelphia to flee the city, a sure preventative. He worked day in and day out to comfort and treat the ill, but with little success. So many people contracted the disease and soon after the city began to crumble. A sufficient portion of the population, members of Congress, and even President George Washington fled the city.

With the first frost in October, the disease began to die down. But by that time, there was an average of 120 deaths per day. Eventually, Yellow Fever had disappeared when cold weather arrived in November and December. The death toll in Philadelphia was over 4,000.