by David & Marsha Biddix
This week, we have seen a rise in “fake” causes of the COVID-19 pandemic and in potential cures or preventative measures. The battle continued in the media over where the virus originated, with some suggesting that it arose from a Chinese lab in the city of Wuhan (which has been significantly debunked by scientists) to charges by China that the virus arose in the U.S. military and was spread by them (again debunked) to an idea that the virus expanded into areas that have the recently-released 5G cell phone service towers, with some celebrities like Woody Harrelson leading the charge against the technology. In the United Kingdom, some have taken the unprecedented step of setting these towers on fire in order to eliminate them, ironically damaging the vital communications links needed during this time. And no, there is no shred of evidence that the 5G technology is even remotely related to COVID-19.
We also have seen reports that some have started drinking human breast milk in an effort to take in antibodies to protect against the virus (which again has no scientific basis). Others have been pushing essential oils and other herbal concoctions as ways of preventing COVID-19 or trotting back out long-held “cures” such as using copper and other concoctions to kill the virus.
Dreco Laxative Ad from 1918
This is common to any medical malady, especially during widespread outbreaks. During the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918, there were many advertisements suggesting the use of quinine (a drug used to treat malaria) to combat the virus (which of course it didn’t). There was also several stories in North Carolina papers such as the Winston-Salem Journal and the Charlotte Observer that suggested using lemons in a hot lemonade form to battle the Spanish Flu and, at the same time, suggested that the lemon crop be conserved to help the most people. Other reports cite the eating of onions, both raw and cooked, as a way to recover from the flu. The High Point Enterprise reprinted an article from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania that suggested saturating cotton ball with alcohol spirits and chloroform, placing it between a patient’s teeth, and have the patient inhale the fumes for 15 minutes, then take a break for 15 minutes, and repeat this process 24 times. The Owensboro, Kentucky-based Twice-A-Week Messenger touted a preventative and cure developed by a Dr. George F. Baer using iodine and creosote. Finally, an advertisement for Dreco laxative in the Wilmington Morning Star cited the use of it in combination with avoiding crowds, getting fresh air and exercise, staying cheerful and “keeping the bowels moving naturally” as ways of protecting against Spanish Flu.
Public health officials both now and in 1918 warn the public against the purported causes and treatments, noting that work was underway in labs to find scientifically-verified treatments, vaccinations, and other methods to protect the public from disease. it seems there will always be someone trying to make a quick buck from fear and misinformation.
If you have stories, images, or videos that you would like to include in The Corona Times, please e-mail mitchellnchistory@gmail.com with your stories and files for inclusion. If you have problems sending us videos, please e-mail and we will make arrangements for you to upload the video to us.
You will note a series of numbers contained in the blog. They document the spread of virus through confirmed cases by the federal Centers for Disease Control and by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. These are the official totals provided by state and local government at the date of the post and do not include estimates or cases not confirmed by these agencies. This is our effort to provide an accurate gauge of confirmed virus spread as it continues during the pandemic.
[su_button url=”https://mitchellnchistory.org/the-corona-times/” background=”#ed2935″ color=”#ffffff” size=”5″ center=”yes” icon=”icon: angle-double-left” icon_color=”#fff” text_shadow=”0px 0px 0px #000000″]Corona Times Home[/su_button]
Cases in North Carolina
4/15/20
Deaths in North Carolina
4/15/20
Current Hospitalizations
in North Carolina
4/15/20
Cases in Western North Carolina
4/15/20
Deaths in
Western North Carolina
4/15/20
Cases in the United States
4/15/20
Deaths in the United States
4/15/20