The paragraph from Dr. Harte's "essay" concerning the 1918 Influenza
Epidemic:
"The Great Pandemic of 1918 ws the greatest plague of modern times. It is estimated to have killed
between 25 million and 40 million people worldwide, about half a million in this country. History
shows us that those under chiropractic car during the flu pandemic had a far better chance of
survival. One example: medical doctors in Davenport Iowa treated 93,590 patients, with 6,116 deaths---
in other words 1 out of 15 succumbed to the flu. At The Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport,
1635 flu cases were adjustd, with only one fatility. Outside of Davenport, chiropractors adjusted
4,735 flu cases, wit only six deaths--1 out of 866. In 1919, Palmer published "The Flu & You". The
ratio of flu cases cared for versus deaths wee as follw: Medical care: 1 out of 17 died. Osteopathic
care: 1 out of 36 died. Chiropractic care: 1 out of 886."
My research: According to te 1920 US census, Iowa had a population of
2.4 million citizens, while Davenport, Iowa had a population of approximately 54,000. Although I
can't find how many "medical doctors" practiced in Davenport in 1918, it seems like it would have
had to have been a pretty large number to "see" 93,590 patients over a perhaps a five month
period, with the majority of cases popping up in maybe only three of those five months.
Additionally, according to a recent article in the Des Moines, Iowa Register, there were
approximatly 6,500 deaths attributed to the 1918 Influenza Epidemic in ALL of Iowa. If Dr. Harte's
figures are correct than Davenport would have had to have been the "epicenter" of that calamity,
with only 2% of the population, but 94% of the deaths.
