New York City’s health commissioner placed the entire Port of New York under quarantine
On Sept. 12, 1918, following the arrival of a number of ships with influenza-infected passengers, New York Cityï¾’s…
The first civilian influenza cases were reported in Boston
On Sept. 11, 1918, the first civilian influenza cases were reported in Boston. By Sept. 16, there were…
Two hundred sick sailors were admitted to the new emergency hospital
On Sept. 10, 1918, two hundred sick sailors were admitted to the new emergency hospital. Meanwhile, Chelsea Naval…
The Massachusetts National Guard erected a tent hospital on Corey Hill for influenza pandemic
On Sept. 9, 1918, the Massachusetts National Guard, under the direction of Colonel William H. Brooks, erected a…
Influenza arrived in Illinois after sailors at Great Lakes Naval Training Station fell ill
On Sept. 8, 1918, influenza arrived in Illinois after sailors at Great Lakes Naval Training Station fell ill….
Massachusetts State Department of Health warned that influenza would likely spread to the Boston population
On Sept. 5, 1918, Dr. John S. Hitchcock, the head of the communicable disease section of the Massachusetts…
Influenza broke out on the Receiving Ship at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier
On Aug. 28, 1918, influenza had broken out on the Receiving Ship at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier.
The first influenza epidemic cases arrived in New York City
On Aug. 11, 1918, the first influenza epidemic cases arrived in New York City with a Norwegian vessel…
First mention of influenza appeared in weekly public health report
On Apr. 4, 1918, the first mention of influenza appeared in a weekly public health report. The report…
Swine influenza subtype H1N1 first appeared
In the summer of 1918, the swine influenza virus first appeared in western Illinois, where it caused not…
Kansas City suffered over 11,000 influenza cases and over 2,300 deaths from the influenza epidemic
By spring 1919, Kansas City had suffered over 11,000 influenza cases and over 2,300 deaths from the epidemic,…
By the end of 1918, 35% of Cleveland’s population had contracted either influenza or developed pneumonia
By the end of 1918, 3.5% of Cleveland’s population had contracted either influenza or developed pneumonia. 3,600 people…
Between 25 and 50 million people died from the influenza outbreak that began in 1918
In 1918, It was estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected…
Alice C. Evans described the organism that caused undulant fever
In 1918, Alice C. Evans described the organism that caused undulant fever. Despite severe and persistent criticism of…
Donald Jones invented the double-cross that moves hybrid corn from the lab into farmers’ fields
In 1918, geneticist Donald Jones invents the double-cross (the crossing of two single crosses) that moves hybrid corn…
Army General Hospital 21 became first medical facility
In 1918 Army General Hospital 21, also know as the Fitzsimons Life Science District, became the first medical…
Cincinnati death toll reached 1700 from flu or pneumonia
In 1918, by the end of the influenza epidemic in Cincinnati, the death toll had reached 1700 from…
Innis Steinmetz was the first woman to enter the Medical College of Virginia
In 1918, Innis Steinmetz, became the first woman to enter the medical school, and 30 years later, the…
Alaska Territorial Governor John Strong signed the bill to create the institution now known as the University of Alaska
On May 3, 1917, Alaska Territorial Gov. John Strong signed the bill to create the institution now known…
Mather Neill discovered scrotal reactions of guinea pigs with “Mexican” typhus could be used as differential test with typhus
In 1917, Mather H. Neill discovered that scrotal reactions of guinea pigs with “Mexican” typhus (later known as…
Stem rust attacks the US wheat crop forcing Herbert Hoover’s Food Administration to declare two wheatless days a week
In 1917, Stem rust attacked the U.S. wheat crop, destroying more than two million bushels and forcing Herbert…
Hungarian Kark Ereky coined the term biotechnology
In 1917, Hungarian Kark Ereky first coined the word “biotechnology” and in 1919 published “Biotechnology of Meat, Fat…
The Emory Unit, Base Hospital 43, served during World War I
In 1917, when the U.S. entered World War I, Emory University organized a medical unit that would be…
The University of Iowa College of Pharmacy secretly produced bootleg aspirin
In 1917, the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy secretly produced bootleg aspirin after the war in Europe…
The new Cook County Hospital facility opened
In 1917, the new Cook County Hospital facility opened and is the current Main Building of today’s Hospital….
The Oregon Children’s Development and Rehabilitation Center Service Program established at OHSU
In 1917, the state wide Children’s Development and Rehabilitation Center Service Program was established in the University of…
The Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company donated 20-acres to the University of Oregon Medical School
In 1917, Dr. Kenneth McKenzie the staff surgeon at Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company persuaded the company to…
David Marine and colleagues initiated an iodine prophylaxis program in over 2100 schoolgirls
In 1917, David Marine, a U.S. physician in Ohio, and his colleagues initiated an iodine prophylaxis program in…
Polio epidemic spread throughout New York killing more than 2,300 mostly children
On Jun. 17, 1916, New York City experienced the first large epidemic of polio (poliomyletis), with over 9,000…
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Sherley Amendment to the Pure Food and Drugs Act was constitutional
On Jan. 10, 1916, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Sherley Amendment to the Pure Food and Drugs…