The Great Influenza

Most disease victims, particularly in North America and Europe, made full recoveries. But some victims were left with a final complication. The influenza virus attacked the brain, and as a result of this, it caused various mental instabilities in some survivors. Delirium, depression, and apathy were all common among victims. A decade later, some linked the influenza to an increase in Parkinson’s disease.

New research into the 1918 pandemic conducted throughout the 20th century seems to confirm the previously anecdotal evidence that influenza survivors often suffered mental health issues.

Even as government officials died of the disease, an important meeting of heads of state from the victorious nations in the war was planned in Paris. Though many people from many countries attended, in the end many of the decisions were made by President Wilson, without his staff, in conference with France and Britain’s leaders.

Wilson’s negotiations in France stretched on, and people in his family caught influenza, which lingered even into late March of 1919. On April 3, Wilson himself had an attack so violent that some suspect he’d been poisoned (in fact, it was just influenza). Before his fever, Wilson was uncompromising, ready to walk away from any treaty if the United States didn’t get favorable terms. After getting sick, he was eager to return to negotiations as soon as possible, but his health didn’t allow it.

Some people around Wilson noted that he’d lost his mental “resiliency” since the attack. At one point, Wilson believed his home was full of French spies. Wilson appeared tired, and one day he suddenly yielded to all of France’s demands without getting anything in return. This included having Germany accept all responsibility for war, pay reparations, demilitarize, and hand certain strategic territories over to France.

Germany was shocked by the treaty’s terms and believed it violated the principles Wilson had set forth. Wilson continued to speak erratically, and many later described his mental state as resembling a nervous breakdown. Four months later, he suffered a major stroke.

Some later historians argued that Wilson actually suffered his first small stroke in France, but one careful medical historian confirmed that Wilson’s symptoms in France matched perfectly with influenza, not stroke. The myth of Wilson’s stroke has often been repeated, even in the 21st century. A recent study shows, however, that there is a clear link between influenza and stroke.

It’s impossible to know how Wilson’s influenza case changed history. Most historians agree, however, that the harshness toward Germany in the World War I peace treaty was directly responsible for creating the conditions that led to World War II. Even at the time, many criticized Wilson’s role in the peace treaty, calling him a hypocrite who betrayed his own principles. Several diplomats either resigned or threatened to.