LHS US Historical Skills Assessment - Pandemic of 1918

September 20, 1918: “Beware the Kiss!” Salt Lake Telegram

The Salt Lake Telegram was a local newspaper in Salt Lake City during the first half of the 1900s. [Changed for easier reading.]

“Cut back on kissing.” Those are the instructions that City Health Commissioner Samuel G. Paul gave today. He said that kissing is a common way to spread influenza. An epidemic of influenza has spread across the Atlantic ocean to the east coast, and it is likely that the epidemic will spread through the whole country.

Kissing isn’t the only way to spread the flu-- Coughing and sneezing are also well-known germ spreaders. Every citizen should keep away from people who are coughing or sneezing. Anyone who has a cold, even a small one, should use some antiseptic spray to cleanse his or her throat and protect the community.

Dr. Paul said that the war is the most important thing right now. If influenza has been carried to the US by German agents, every citizen should consider themselves a soldier in the great battle for health and work to stop the disease. Battles can be won at home as well as on the fields of France. These German schemes will fail if the people follow ordinary precautions.”

October 9, 1918: “State Board of Health Issues Drastic Order Effective Immediately,” Salt Lake Telegram

The Salt Lake Telegram was a local newspaper in Salt Lake City during the first half of the 1900s. [Changed for easier reading.]

Salt Lake City will be schoolless, churchless and amusement-less after tonight. To slow the spread of Spanish influenza, the state board of health issued an order today that bans all public gatherings, including churches, schools, theatres, and movie theatres in Salt Lake City (and every other part of Utah where the disease is spreading). The order starts today, but it probably won’t cancel any gatherings that have already been planned for tonight. Theatres and motion picture houses will probably be allowed to stay open for tonight, but after tonight the closing order will be strict.

As another precaution, the city health commissioner asked that all streetcars be run with the windows open. Travelling in crowded cars without ventilation spreads the disease, so opening the windows will be one of the most important ways to stop the epidemic.

Dr. Beatty says that all cases of Spanish Influenza should be reported to the city board of health immediately. Salt Lake is definitely in the grip of an epidemic. Several hundred cases have already been reported In Salt Lake City. The disease has appeared in many sections of the state and is spreading rapidly. Eight or ten deaths have also resulted from pneumonia, which can come from Spanish Influenza.