Our Repeat Pandemic

Looking Back at the Spanish Flu

An article in The Collingwood Messenger 1918 - Simcoe County Archives

Often referred to as the Spanish Lady, the Spanish flu of 1918-1919 killed an estimated 60 million people worldwide, 50,000 in Canada. It came on the heels of the First World War which had claimed the lives of approximately 60,000 Canadians. To lose another 50,000 people to disease so soon after was devastating.

The Spanish Flu is believed to have originated in China, however it was Spain that first recorded an outbreak of the disease and so, the Spanish Flu, the Spanish Lady began her journey. Aided by World War I, this virus spread around the world. Soldiers returning home created the largest movement of people from one continent to another the world had experienced. With the war finally over, communities longed to have life return to normal. It was time to celebrate, welcome the soldiers home and get back to living.

In many cases however those soldier returned home sick, too sick with the Spanish Flu to attend the parties thrown in their honour. Others arrived home well but a few months later contracted the disease and died. Entire families would suffer through the symptoms, some recovering many not.

Unlike many illnesses this one did not target the young, the infirm or elderly. Again and again it struck young healthy men aged 25-45.

A family gathers for a photo. Even the family cat was to be masked. 1918 - Wikimedia Commons

While large cities were hard hit, so were Canada’s northern communities. In many cases entire communities were wiped out. Occasionally health officials would visit these distant villages to find only children left alive.

The disease struck hard and fast, sometimes bringing death within hours. It had the initial symptoms of any flu: high fever, shivers, coughs, muscular pain and sore throat, followed with tiredness and dizzy spells. However it then progressed to sapping the patient’s strength such that they could not eat or drink without assistance, difficulty breathing followed, and then death.

Society was reeling once again with the loss of its work force. Schools and libraries were closed. There was discussion about having people disinfect the books before returning them. Theatres were closed and they began looking to the municipalities for reimbursement for their financial losses.

Churches were closed much to the disagreement of the parishioners. Members wanted to know why shops and industries could remain open but churches had to close. They believed it was the business of a church to support the community during times of need.

Soldiers returning home created the largest movement of people from one continent to another the world had experienced

Weekly newspapers would normally record three or four deaths during the influenza outbreak there were up to fifteen a week. Morgues and funeral homes could not keep up. There was a shortage of coffins.

Bicycle manufacturers used the disease as a marketing tool arguing in their advertising that it was safer to ride bicycles than the street car. Bell Canada ran an ad apologizing for the shortage of operators. There were so many off with the flu that they asked customers to keep their conversations to a minimum so that lines could be kept free for those who needed them.

A masked boy stands outside Toronto's closed Royal Alexandra Theatre in 1918. CITY OF TORONTO ARCHIVES

Editorials from doctors advocated the use of liquor to deal with the symptoms of the flu. This was controversial since Prohibition was still in existence.

Pharmacies developed their own concoctions to defeat the disease or lesson the symptoms. One of these flogging his new cough syrup was a man named W.K. Buckley. The Buckley’s mixture is still on the go. There were also home remedies such as mustard plasters, mixtures making use of garlic and onions.

Those who dealt with the public routinely, the policemen, street car operators, doctors all wore masks. Philadelphia prohibited groups of more than five to gather. The city of San Diego passed a law stating anyone within the city limits must wear a mask. Civil libertarians argued that the law was unconstitutional. Those who disregarded the law faced a fine of $100 and 30 days in jail.

Poster issued by the Provincial Board of Health about the influenza epidemic, Alberta. Glenbow Archives, NA-4548-5.

In Ontario there were ongoing public ads reminding people to wash their hands. Some stories passed down from this time tell of people afraid to go out in public, afraid of going to the post office. There are also tales are of people refusing to be held hostage by a disease. They would go about their daily business. They would take the train to Peterborough, go visit family, go shopping for Christmas presents. They would not panic and ring their hands, they rolled up their sleeves, persevered and got on with life.

While that worked for some there were many other tragic stories of loss: a young store owner, aged 30, his wife after three stillborn babies, gave birth to a healthy child and a few short months later the woman buried both her husband and her new baby.

One 92 year old woman told of her aunt who passed away during the epidemic. The aunt and a friend had been inseparable during childhood and had continued to maintain their friendship in adulthood. They worked at the same factory, lived across town from one another, contracted Spanish flue and died in their respective homes on the same afternoon.

The Spanish Flu made its appearance in the fall of 1918, gave every indication that the worst was over by December then returned with a vengeance at the end of the month staying until March 1919.

As the Corona Virus of 2019 continues to circulate and spawn variants it is very clear that both history and human reaction repeat. Can we ever learn? Move forward? Or are we destined to simply circle in place?