Ben Franklin knew the score!
From 1773
^ A modern surgical mask Ben Franklin would’ve worn if he could. Image credit: Philip Steury/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Writeup: Dr Benjamin Franklin is seemingly predicting airborne viruses responsible for influenza and others associated with the common cold, and drawing a connection to becoming clinically ill with poor dietary choices (2017 writeup; see also Benjamin Franklin Would Get Social Distancing).
He also said in 1785 ‘I am persuaded that no common Air from without, is so unwholesome as the Air within a close Room, that has been often breath’d and not changed.’.
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See @jmcrookston Twitter threads: 1 & 2