The Indian Territory in the Civil War Message Board

Epidemics

Worldwide epidemics/pandemics are nothing new. As to Indian Territory, cholera was a great killer, as was malaria and other diseases. During the
Civil War the massing of troops and refugees in the Fort Gibson area stressed the sanitary conditions. Add inadequate rations, a lack of medical
knowledge and other factors, it is not surprising that disease killed so many. Disease was the main killer in war until late in the 20th century.
I have seen some references to smallpox hitting the Fort Gibson area during the war. I am preparing a research paper on the cholera pandemic
which hit Fort Gibson in 1866 and Fort Arbuckle and Fort Gibson in 1867. It was noted that the area around Gibson, especially, up and down the
Neosho River, was one continuous scene of buried men, horses and mules, adding to the potential of disease. Epidemics of cholera, smallpox,
malaria and other diseases were frequent during the history of Gibson. Cholera does not seems to occur after 1867. Several diseases-cholera,
malaria and typhoid-are water borne or related; malaria being spread by the mosquito. Dr. D.D. Hitchcock, acting assistant surgeon (a contract
position), was a victim of the 1867 cholera epidemic. I mention these events in context to today's pandemic. While trying to stay clear of the
political implications, I hope that we, as historians, can put things into perspective. Disease has always been with us and always will be.
We should be thankful that past horrors are not revisiting us.

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Epidemics
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