Published in 2000, fever 1793 is a young adult novel that tells the story of a 14 yearold girl named mattie cook, who fights to survive the yellow fever epidemic. History has its eyes on you on hamiltons birthday, january 11, nlm will debut politics of yellow fever in alexander hamiltons america with a website and a display in the history of medicine reading room. The truth about mobile phone and wireless radiation dr devra davis duration. Eliza, a free black woman, is the coffeehouse cook. In the year 1793, yellow fever was a dreaded disease.
One reason for this fear was that nobody knew where the disease originated. Students will learn about the yellow fever epidemic, the free african society, and life after the american revolution. In an intense, wellresearched tale that will resonate particularly with readers in parts of the country where the west nile virus and other insectborne diseases are active, anderson speak, 1999, etc. Matties story of dealing with the yellow fever is also one of rebellion against parental authority, thus making fever 1793 much more than just a historical novel that addresses one of the lesserknown events in american history. The closest ive ever gotten to yellow fever was getting vaccinated against it prior to travel. Fever is a book, which takes place in 1793, just after the american revolution. Seventhgraders mix history, literature in study of philadelphias. In about 15% of people, within a day of improving the fever comes back, abdominal pain occurs, and liver damage begins causing yellow skin.
The yellow fever epidemic the fever took a devastating toll on the city as nearly 5,000 individuals died, among them close to 400 african americans. During the summer of 1793, mattie cook lives above the family coffee shop with her widowed mother and grandfather. Bizarre medical practices of the time are discussed, as well as popular historical figures, such as george washington and benjamin rush, who were involved in finding a cure for this horrific outbreak. During the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia, 3,000 or more people were listed in the official register of deaths between august 1 and november 9. Few disease outbreaks in the history of early america proved as tragic as the philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of summer, 1793, and fewer still have lingered longer in historical memory. The book describes in graphic detail the symptoms, progress, and agonies of the disease, and how it destroys lives and families when philadelphia falls victim in 1793. The yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia in 1793 was one of the worst. Encyclopedia of greater philadelphia fever 1793 novel. Yellow fever, or american plague as it was known at the time. The exhibition explores how the medical community helped shape the response to the 1793 epidemic in philadelphia, which killed 15 percent of the. Diagnosing and treating yellow fever in philadelphia, 1793. The online exhibition features graphic and textual primary sources with accompanying narratives, depicting how yellow fever, then without any known cause, affected the city and its.
National library of medicine, provides a multidisciplinary perspective on the yellow fever outbreak in philadelphia in 1793. Few disease outbreaks in the history of early america proved as tragic as the philadelphia yellow fever epidemic of summer, 1793, and fewer still have lingered. At first, many residents believed it was simply a common autumnal illness. An american plague was one of the finalists in the 2003 national book award and was a 2004 newbery honor book. And the soaring temperatures complicated life in the city. A low voice and soft address are the common indications of a wellbred woman. Also, the symptoms were so severe that being diagnosed with yellow fever was considered a death sentence. Hannah more the young lady abroad or affectionate advice on the social and moral habits of females, 1777. The nations capital and the largest city in north america is devastated by an apparently incurable disease, cause unknown. Yellow fever is an acute viral infectious disease transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The great plague of yellow fever in philadelphia in 1793 studies in health, illness, and caregiving. By july, the citys inhabitants were remarking on the extraordinary number of flies and mosquitoes that swarmed around the dock area. Yellow fever, acute infectious disease characterized by fever, headache, backache, nausea, and vomiting. Laurie halse andersons fever, 1793 is a novel about a fourteenyearold girl named matilda mattie cook who comes of age during the infamous yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia in 1793.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read fever 1793. I love historical fiction and this book was very interesting in describing the 1793 yellow fever plague in philadelphia through the eyes of young 14 year old mattie. In a powerful, dramatic narrative, critically acclaimed author jim murphy describes the illness known as yellow fever and the toll it took on the citys residents, relating the epidemic to the major social and political. Current outbreak of yellow fever is a reminder of the diseases storied history. The vast majority of them died of yellow fever, making the epidemic in the city of 50,000 people one of the most severe in united states history. Introduction it was hot in philadelphia during the summer of 1793 very hot. See more ideas about yellow fever, fever book and mystery of history. John fenno to joseph ward, november 14, 1793, in letters of john fenno and john ward fenno, 17791800, part 2. Learn more about its transmission, treatment, and history. Mattie and her grandfather flee the city, and try to escape into the country where the air is clean. The story fever 1793 takes place in historic philadelphia in the year 1793. In the story mattie cook main character has a big conflict when robbers come and rob her familys store. The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 can be considered a crucial part of not only pennsylvanias history, but of the history of human strength and fortitude during unbelievably difficult times.
On august 19, 1793, the first fatality of yellow fever, peter aston, became a topic of general conversation according to mathew carey, irishborn american publisher and first hand witness to the beginning of the plague. The yellow fever epidemic in 1793, philadelphia was struck with the worst outbreak of yellow fever ever recorded in north america. In 1793 philadelphia, sixteenyearold matilda cook, separated from her sick mother, learns about perseverance and selfreliance when. Yellow fever, epidemics, juvenile fiction, fiction, survival, history. See more ideas about yellow fever, 7th grade ela and historical fiction.
Alexander adaire school is laurie halse andersons fever 1793. Dead house on the schuylkill during the yellow fever in philadelphia in 1793, david johnson. Foul smells of rotting refuse and waste permeated the air. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. In 1793, philadelphia, pennsylvania, then the nations capital, experienced the first major outbreak of yellow fever in the united states. Politics of yellow fever in alexander hamiltons america, produced by the u. Popular yellow fever books meet your next favorite book. Matilda mattie cook is a fourteenyearold girl living above a coffeehouse in philadelphia with her mother, grandfather a former military man, a parrot named king george, and an orange cat named silas. The background of revolution plays out on a national level as well as a personal level. Yellow fever in the year 1793, yellow fever was a dreaded disease. The problem in the book fever 1793 is the outbreak of yellow fever in philadelphia in the year 1793.
It caused epidemics before all around the world, especially in places where people had little or no immunity. This epidemic infected and killed about 10% of the population, which at. This viral disease occurs in tropical areas of africa and. By the end of september, 20,000 people had fled the city. Yellow fever is a viral disease of typically short duration. Just walking through a grave site of the yellow fever victims, it really kind of. The fever took a devastating toll on the city as nearly 5,000 individuals died, among them close to 400 african americans.
Rush mistakenly believed the origin of the 1793 epidemic in philadelphia to be unsanitary conditions and rotten vegetables. The death toll from a yellow fever epidemic in philadelphia hits 100 on october 11, 1793. A week later, sixtyfour people had died, though no one seemed quite sure what killed them. Embracing a complete list of the dead, the names of the doctors and nurses employed, names of all who contributed money or means, and the name and history of the howa paperback.
Her body is changing, she cant stand the sound of her mothers voice, and she has a mega crush on a cute painter. Fever 1793 teachers guide explore late eighteenthcentury life in america with the discussion topics and crosscurricular activities in this teachers guide for fever 1793. Fever 1793 literature guide for teachers, 5th9th grade. The yellow fever epidemic historical society of pennsylvania. The yellow fever epidemic of 1878, in memphis, tennessee. A bustling center of international trade and commerce that welcomed people, goods, and pathogens from around the world, philadelphians were wellacquainted with infectious disease prior to.
Almost immediately upon his return to the united states and his election as governor of new york, jay would have to deal with a deadly threat. Now, one philadelphia public school is using a young adult novel to impart. Philadelphia november 14, hartford courant hartford, ct, december 9, 1793. By the story being in philadelphia it really makes the conflicts of the story pop out. The story mentions charles willson peales natural history museum and. Goats and soda an outbreak in angola and the democratic republic of congo has raised concerns about the infamous. The skin and eyes may appear yellow, a condition known as jaundice, giving rise to the diseases popular name. John jay and the yellow fever epidemics part 1 the.
In most cases, symptoms include fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea, muscle pains particularly in the back, and headaches. The first yellow fever outbreaks in the united states occurred in late 1690s. Yellow fever spreads throughout the cities, including philadelphia, where mattie cook lives. Though many cases of yellow fever are mild and selflimiting, yellow fever can also be a lifethreatening disease causing hemorrhagic fever and hepatitis hence the term yellow from the jaundice it can cause. During the year 2000, a new book, fever 1793, by laurie halse anderson. Nearly 100 years later, in the late summer of 1793, refugees from a yellow fever. In this psychological portrait of a city in terror, j. The medical community did not know the natural history of yellow fever. In 1793, philadelphia was the site of the most fearsome epidemic to strike the young nation. It portrays the agony and pain this disease brought upon the american people marking its place in history in order to never be forgotten. See more ideas about yellow fever, medical history and history.
909 524 1066 158 1050 294 1338 1414 314 1229 42 134 1397 806 29 1438 1464 241 1095 1093 507 1087 1332 1141 1389 109 524 576 27 931 297 676 212 683 1295 479 1099 690 666 836 776