Yellow Fever was a catastrophic epidemic that affected Philadelphia greatly. The city was doomed to fail. How did Philadelphians react to the fever? What was their solution? Why did they persevere when they could have abandoned the city?
“How can we use this to help propel us forward.” This was the idea that spread across Philadelphia after the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1793. After the fever, the city was in a crisis. The deadly epidemic swept away Philadelphians right as the illness crossed our shore. It wasn’t until late October that death rates decreased, and by that time around 4,000-5,000 Philadelphia residents lost their lives to the epidemic. The only way to save their city was to reshape William Penn’s utopian dream for a neighborly, clean, and safe city. Would this be the correct answer to the Yellow Fever epidemic? Could Philadelphia reshape what they were before 1793?
The Yellow Fever epidemic spread easily across William Penn’s five original squares. These areas were dumpy, dirty, and focal points for water to compile. The water created perfect breeding grounds for infected mosquitoes. After the fever faded, Philadelphians renewed the squares and turned them into recreational areas, and restored Penn’s original plan for a “nature-filled city.”
After the epidemic, Philadelphians were determined to create better medical conditions for the city. Just as the plans for a “new” Philadelphia began, members of the College of Physicians began to improve innovation, experimentation, and research in the city. New knowledge and strategies will help prevent other epidemics like Yellow Fever. After the fever, Philadelphia also developed a board of public health. This public board would notify and investigate the city if there were another epidemic.
The improvements made after the Yellow Fever epidemic have all helped with the well-being of the city today. If Philadelphia never renewed the five squares, they would still be filled with waste and dump. Now, they are used as tourist sites and recreational parks all around the city. The squares no longer spread epidemics!
The research, innovation, and experimentation by the College of Physicians helped advance Philadelphia’s medical conditions. The Physicians involved influenced where the city is now in terms of treatment and vaccinations of epidemics. Now, vaccinations prevent us from dealing with horrible illnesses like Yellow Fever.
The Board of Public Health was established to notify and educate Philadelphians on epidemics. It is still functions similarly today. The Board of Public Health helps us stay protected from illnesses that might spread around the city. They also offer vaccinations for local Philadelphians.
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