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    Ginger Is A ConstructMichelle Dean
    10/24/14 3:39pm

    Fascinating article! Plus ca change, eh?

    I've been thinking about the Yellow Fever epidemic that swept through Philly in 1793. So many people died of the fever, and then a comet came through and everyone thought it was the END OF DAYS, so the population of one of the largest cities in America shrunk by half as people fled the fever and the supposed wrath of God. I think about how one "solution" for fighting yellow fever was to fire cannons into the air because people thought it would clear the miasma. Then I wonder, what is the current equivalent of shooting cannons at Yellow Fever? When people sit around the oil drum fire in the Thunderdome in 2214, what aspects of 2014 medical science will they chuckle over?

    Cheerfulness is a wonderful preventative.

    Also, this is just damn good advice.

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      RussianistGinger Is A Construct
      10/24/14 3:47pm

      Cheerfulness is a wonderful preventative.

      One of the charming things about late 19th century newspapers is that they're chock full of lines like this.

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      Ginger Is A ConstructRussianist
      10/24/14 3:48pm

      I love the admonishments in Southern newspapers during the Civil War, telling women on the home front in all caps: "DON'T WRITE GLOOMY LETTERS!"

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    RussianistMichelle Dean
    10/24/14 3:39pm

    History rhymes when it comes to epidemics. Conservative opportunists link fear about the disease to immigrants to stir up their panicky base, while simultaneously cutting corners on regulations that might mitigate the public health crisis (in the name of profit). And while "comparatively few temperate, well-behaved, and provident persons [become] victims of the scourge," epidemics tend to be spread by intemperate and poorly behaved short-term thinkers who feel that their vacations or wedding-dress shopping or bowling expeditions can't be put off for three weeks until they confirm they're clear.

    Nice post.

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      Who_BobJonesRussianist
      10/24/14 4:24pm

      Does Typhoid Mary ring any bells?

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      Alex BellRussianist
      10/25/14 12:52am

      Lots of wedding dress shopping in Liberia around this time of year, eh?

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    GrumpyEagleMichelle Dean
    10/24/14 3:44pm

    "... foul and undesirable offscourings of Russia, Poland and Hesse-Darmstadt." A reminder that at that time, all white European folks were not considered equal (especially those damn Germans, who devoted their Sunday Sabbath Day to drinking beer and shooting matches.)

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      RussianistGrumpyEagle
      10/24/14 3:48pm

      Don't even get me started on the Irish. The drink is the curse of those people.

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    GregoireMichelle Dean
    10/24/14 3:41pm

    Cholera? Typhus? I'm going to need a lot more cocaine.

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      RussianistGregoire
      10/24/14 3:57pm

      Off-topic, how is this show holding up? I'm considering marathoning it at some point.

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      GregoireRussianist
      10/24/14 4:00pm

      Mostly a thumbs up from me. Its a show built on atmosphere and mood, more than any show on television except for Hannibal. Clive is terrific.

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    Mount_PrionMichelle Dean
    10/24/14 3:47pm

    Melville must have been sick himself if he thought Billy Budd was worth submitting.

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