The Spanish Flu in Ireland: A Socio-Economic Shock to Ireland, 1918–1919 (Palgrave Studies in Economic History)

This book examines the Irish experience of the 1918-19 influenza pandemic through a detailed study of the disease in the most industrialised region of the country, the province of Ulster. By exploring the different themes of dispersion of the disease; mortality; gender; medical response and politics - and through case studies of different towns in the province of Ulster - it builds up a picture of the social, economic and political impact of influenza in Ireland . The Ulster experience of the pandemic is examined by constructing micro-histories of industrial cities and towns, along with provincial market towns and a naval port, to provide a basis for comparison of the differing approaches taken to combat the influenza outbreaks throughout Ulster. Contemporary opinion was that Ireland was considerably less affected by the war than the rest of the UK but, this book shows that the war did have a significant influenceon how the influenza pandemic impacted on the Irish population from an economic, social and medical point of view. The book also explores the immediate aftermath of the pandemic and how it influenced the Irish response to the influenza scare of 1920 and the viral pandemic of Encephalitis Lethargica which was prevalent for ten years after 1918, as well as discussing what if any lessons learnt from 1918 have been applied to the present-day outbreak of Covid 19. This book will be of interest to academics in economic history, social history, Irish history and pandemic history, and those studying the effects of pandemics on the economy, health provision and pandemic preparedness. Acknowledgements 7 Chronology of the 1918 Influenza Pandemic 9 Contents 12 Abbreviations 14 List of Figures 15 List of Tables 16 1 Introduction 17 History of the Influenza Virus 17 The 1918–1919 Pandemic in Great Britain 19 Influenza and Ireland 21 References 28 2 ‘Ravages of Influenza’: The Human Cost of Influenza in Ireland 32 Introduction 32 Origin of the 1918–1919 Pandemic 33 Origin and Spread of Influenza in Ireland 34 The First Wave—Summer 1918 35 The Second Wave—Autumn 1918 36 The Third Wave—Spring 1919 40 Global Mortality of 1918–1919 Pandemic 43 Problems Associated with Irish Mortality Figures for 1918 and 1919 45 Influenza Mortality in Ireland 47 Pneumonia 52 Bronchitis 52 Heart Disease 53 Pulmonary Tuberculosis 53 Comparison of Irish Mortality Figures for 1918 and 1919 with the Average of the Preceding Ten years (1908–1917) 55 Age Distribution of the 1918–1919 Pandemic 56 Age Distribution in Ireland 57 Influenza Mortality in Different Parts of Ireland 61 Explaining the Donegal Figures 64 Seasonal Migration 67 ‘Waking the Dead’ 68 Influenza Morbidity 72 Who Died from Influenza? 73 References 83 3 ‘Woe unto Them That Are with Child’: Gender and Influenza 86 Introduction 86 Pregnant Women and Influenza 87 Professional Nurses and Influenza 90 Domestic Nurses 93 Factory Working and Influenza 96 References 108 4 ‘Mysterious Malady Spreading’: Newspaper Coverage of the 1918–19 Influenza Pandemic 111 Introduction 111 First Wave: May 1918–September 1918 112 Second and Third Wave: October 1918–May 1919 119 Sinn Féin Propaganda and Influenza 121 Electioneering During the Pandemic 131 References 142 5 ‘The Doctors Are Being Run off Their Feet’: Medical Response to Influenza in Ireland 145 Introduction 145 What Caused the 1918–19 Pandemic 145 Symptoms of Influenza 147 Public Health in Ireland 148 Physicians and Influenza 151 Medical Shortages during the Pandemic 151 Cures and Remedies 154 Alcohol as a Treatment 156 The Use of Vaccines 160 Advertisements 162 References 171 6 ‘A Serious Menace to the Public Health of the City’: Belfast and the Influenza Pandemic 174 Introduction 174 First Wave in Belfast 175 Belfast Union Hospital and the First Wave 176 Belfast Corporation’s Response During First Wave 177 Second Wave in Belfast 178 Belfast Union Hospital and the Second Wave 179 Belfast Corporation’s Response During Second Wave 180 The Scavengers’ Strike in Belfast 181 Dr Bailie’s Recommendations 184 Closure of Cinemas 184 Third Wave in Belfast 188 Belfast Union Hospital During the Third Wave 189 Belfast Corporation’s Response During Third Wave 189 The Effectiveness of Belfast Corporation’s Response 190 References 197 7 ‘Derry Catches Infection’: The Influenza Pandemic in Derry 199 Introduction 199 First Wave in Londonderry 199 Second Wave in Londonderry 201 Typhus in Londonderry 203 Third Wave in Londonderry 205 Influenza in Strabane 206 References 212 8 ‘Many Lurgan Workers Down’: Influenza in Lurgan and Portadown 213 Introduction 213 First Wave in Lurgan and Portadown 213 Second Wave in Lurgan and Portadown 215 Third Wave in Lurgan and Portadown 219 References 222 9 ‘No Room in the Fever Hospital for a Great Number of Influenza Patients’: Influenza in Larne and Ballyclare 223 Influenza in Larne and Ballyclare 223 Influenza in Larne 223 Influenza in Ballyclare 227 Reference 233 10 ‘An Enormous Amount of Distress Among the Poor’: Influenza in Newry, Cookstown and Clones 234 Introduction 234 Influenza in Newry 234 Second Wave in Newry 235 Third Wave in Newry 240 Influenza in Cookstown 242 National and Technical School Closures in Ireland 243 The Cookstown Response to Influenza 246 Third Wave in Cookstown 249 Influenza in Clones 251 References 261 11 Conclusion and Aftermath 262 The 1919–1920 Influenza Scare 264 Encephalitis Lethargica in Ireland 266 COVID-19 in Ireland and United Kingdom 270 Comparison of Covid-19 and the Influenza Pandemic of 1918–19 272 References 279 Bibliography 281 Index 297