16. Changes to American society
Prior to the outbreak of the Spanish Flu in the United States, urban decorative water fountains often served as drinking fountains, equipped with metal cups on chains. Those desirous of hydration shared the common cups. Following the Spanish flu, they vanished, never to be seen again in American cities. Ladles near wells and water pumps, once common, also faded from American life. American healthcare professionals were joined by their British and French counterparts informing their populations to avoid undue fatigue, and to wear adequate clothing to prevent becoming chilled. The role of nutrition in preventing illness was not yet known. The impact of the flu on communities prone to chronic hunger was observed and reported in the United States and Europe.
Flu epidemics before and after 1918, into the 21st century, killed annually, though the victims who died were usually among the elderly, the very young, and those with pre-existing conditions. The Spanish flu claimed those among its victims, but it also killed a large number of healthy individuals between the ages of 20 and forty. More than half the American men who died in Europe during World War I were in that category, victims of the flu rather than German guns. Thousands more died in the mustering and training camps before being sent to Europe, and in the receiving ships and hospitals of the Navy and Coast Guard.