The great epizootic of 1872

The great epizootic of 1872Equine Influenza Devastates America

1AMERICA COMES TO A HALTImagine a transportation disaster that within 90 days affected every aspect of American transportation, everything Americans took for granted, and everything that ensured their safety.

2AMERICA RAN ON HORSE POWER Throughout most of U.S. history, the horse has been the engine of business and commerce. Our nation relied on the gentle animal to move freight and perform countless tasks.

3The horse population in the U.S.45A highly contagious strain of equine influenza originated in Toronto, Canada and swept south into the US in late 1872, affecting the entire country within 90 days. It is estimated that 80%-99% of horses were eventually infected. Horses were unable to stand in their stables and were seen coughing violently in the streets.

9/25-Markham, Ont.10/1- Toronto10/10-Detroit10/14- Buffalo, NY10/17-Rochester, NY10/18- Montreal10/19- Syracuse, NY10/21- Keene, NH10/22- NY, NY10/22- Boston10/23- Bangor, Me10/23- Chicago10/24- Baltimore10/26- Pontiac, Mi10/28- Philadelphia10/28- Wash D.C.10/29-Columbus, OH11/1- Newark, De11/2- Charleston11/4- Springfield, Ill11/5-Grand Rapids11/6- Richmond, Va11/10- Indianapolis11/10-Savannah11/13- Louisville11/27- New Orleans12/1-Colorado Springs12/7-Havana, Cuba1/26-Albuquerque

6AMERICA CAME TO A STANDSTILLThe government in Washington D.C. was shut downShips in New York harbor could not unload their cargoA small fire in Boston grew into a devastating inferno destroying a large amount of the cityThe U.S. Cavalry was forced to fight the Apaches on foot

7EVERYDAY LIFE WAS FROZEN

In Philadelphia, streetcar companies suspended service undelivered freight accumulated at wharves and railroad depots consumers lacked milk, ice and groceries saloons lacked beer work halted at construction sites, brickyards and factories city governments curtailed fire protection and garbage collection.8ISOLATING DIDNT HELP While the mortality rate was relatively low, estimated at only 1%-2% overall, large cities lost many more horses than in rural areas.

Since there were no horses to haul coal out of mines, many railroads went bankrupt as well as thousands of other businesses.

A four story horse hotel to quarantine the animals. The city of Philadelphia reported the loss of 2500. There were 600,000 horses in the state of New York alone, over 90% fell ill.9NEWSPAPER REPORTSReporting in the New York Times gives an insight into the extent of the outbreak.

"There is hardly a public stable in the city which is not affected. the paper reported on October 24, 1872.

"It is not uncommon along the streets of the city to see horses dragging along with drooping heads and at intervals coughing violently.""Large quantities of freight are accumulating along the Erie Railway in Paterson, New Jersey.

The disease is spreading rapidly in Bangor, Maine. All fire department horses in Providence, Rhode Island, are sick."

10THE FATE OF THE ECONOMY WAS IN JEOPARDYIt was becoming apparent that a nation so heavily dependent on the horse for so much could suffer an economic calamity from this epidemic.Remember, this disease began spreading in the fall of 1872.What are most farmers doing in the fall of every year?How do Midwestern crops get to Eastern cities?What impact would this event have on your ability to buy food for your family?

11GREAT BOSTON FIRE OF 1872One of the major casualties of the Great Epizootic was the city of Boston itself. A great fire swept through the industrial section on November 9, ultimately destroying 65 acres of the city, comprising 776 buildings.

12FIREMEN STRAPPED HARNASSES TO THEMSELVES TO HAUL WATER No one is certain how the fire started. The water supply in the area was inadequate, and many of the buildings had wooden roofs and were filled with flammable materials. Citizens of Boston were forced to haul water to the location on foot, without the assistance of heavy, faster-moving horses.

13THE LACK OF HORSES AFFECTED THE OUTCOME OF THE APACHE WAR

"There was still another source of discomfort which should not be overlooked. At that time the peculiar disease known as the epizootic made its appearance in the United States and reached Arizona, crippling the resources of the Department in horses and mules; we had to abandon our animals, and take our rations and blanket upon our backs, and do the best we could. Captain John Bourke 1891

The Chiricahua Apache chief, Cochise, was a famous mounted guerrilla.14SUPPLY & DEMANDTHE IMPACT ON PRICES15$54321a specified time periodother things being equalPQD1020355580Price decreases; QD increasesConsumers willingness to buy$5

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$1D0 10 20 35 55 80Quantity Demanded

DEMAND SCHEDULE

QD how much will be purchased at a specific price [& date]..QS2DirectReasons For Upsloping S Curve1. There is increasing opportunity cost if you dont produce.2. Current producers produce more [overtime/more shifts]3. New producers are attracted to the market.S refers to the whole supply curve and refers to what producers will supply at different prices.QS refers to a point on the curve and refers to what producers will supply at a particular price.Change in QS1. Price change2. Movement (up/down S curve)3. Point to point (along S curve)S QS1 P2P1Price increases; QS increasesPrice decreases; QS decreases

Producers want thehighest price possible.

Law of Supply

PQo$5

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1PQD$543211020355070DPrice of CornQuantity of CornCORNConnect the Points10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80GRAPHING DEMAND[Change in QD]

SQo$5

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$110 20 30 40 50 60 70 80$5432160503520 5PQSPrice of CornQuantity of CornCORNPlot the PointsConnect the Points

GRAPHING SUPPLY [Change in QS]Banana Supply & Demand

QoD1QuantityPrice (per pound)S1S2PQ1Q2P1P2Crop Freezing Damage

American Flags After 9-11

QoD1Price (per flag)S1PQ1Q2P1P2D2 Patriotism Surge after 9/11