The prevailing epidemic

Old woman eating gruel: “Ah! You may laugh, my boy; but it’s no joke being funny with the influenza.”
(Punch, London, 1847)

The death of theater

Typhus: “What does one more corpse matter to the world!” (Major theaters closed as typhus knifes a harlequin in the back.)
(La Esquella de torratxa, Barcelona, 1914)

Defending us from cholera

The Spanish monarchy guarding the “No entry” gate. “Out with the Russian chickens! Let the merchants handle them!”
(I’m ignorant of the politics, but the dress has “debt expenses” stenciled on it, and we may presume that the state minimizing its role in fighting the cholera epidemic is being derided here.)
(La Esquella de la torratxa, Barcelona, 1892)

A court for King Cholera

This may be the most famous cholera cartoon in the English-speaking world, but since a high-quality copy is archived in a slightly unexpected place, we might as well catalogue it here as well.
(Punch, London, 1852)

The loves of Clementino

(Clementino Fraga was Brazil’s top public health official, best known for working to eradicate yellow fever in Rio de Janeiro.)
Yellow fever (to bubonic plague): “Now, my dear, my turn has come…”
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1928)

Discretion… that’s the danger!

Regarding mortuary statistics and the pursuit of official hygiene toward plague, yellow fever, smallpox, scarlet fever and croup:
Syphilis: “The public health fight against our illustrious colleagues continues over there…”
Tuberculosis: “And in the meantime (coughing), we are very comfortable here (coughing)… There is nothing (coughing) like doing the job by the sidewalk… (coughing). We arrange more casualties annually (coughing) than all boisterous ailments together (coughing) and we are not uncomfortable…”
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1914)

Without cease (in Pará)

(The American consul congratulates Brazilians on their progress in the campaign against yellow fever in the northern state of Pará. I think the title puns on the sense of “stopping.”)
O Malho‘s homage to the illustrious governor of Pará, Dr. João Coelho, and to Dr. Oswaldo Cruz, for the meritorious public health work of Pará state, the beginning of a new era of growth for this region, until now so neglected by the powers of the Republic.
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1911)

Yellow fever

“Now, with the arrival of German doctors, is yellow fever turning blue? I’m purple for seeing this…”
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1904)

Manecas and the “pneumonica”

Some sad news for our little readers: Manecas is sick with a severe attack of pneumonia-flu and, since it is very difficult to speak, sends us this suggestive drawing, an exact expression of what he has suffered.
(Manecas was a mascot of this satirical supplement.)
(O Século Cómico / Ilustração Portuguesa, Lisbon, 1918)

The smallpox and the vaccine

Oswaldo Cruz [prominent Brazilian bacteriologist]: “Get thee hence, in the name of science!”
Smallpox: “What science? Jenner’s? That’s known to me for 85 years and it still rides an ox cart in Brazil, whereas I already drive a car…
Thrive and flourish!”
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1908)

Expelling the plague

Oswaldo Cruz [Brazilian public health figure]: “Look here, plague of the devil! You are now making fun with me… I have the law for the expulsion of foreigners. It’s empty plates for you! I’ll throw you out of the bar!”
The Plague: “Sir? As long as there are mice and crap, and as long as little more is done out there against them than fumigation and reports… I have the habeas corpus guaranteed and I will stay here as well as in my seven country houses! I will not go!”
(Note how the scythe is no longer only Asiatic, but now also Levantine and American.)
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1907)

The plague in Campos

General Oswaldo Cruz [Brazilian public health champion]: “Withdraw, you infamous woman! Get out of my sight, or else I will smash you!”
The Plague: “I will neither withdraw nor vanish! You are the foreigner in this city! Go take care of Rio de Janeiro and leave Campos to me.”
(The fight is blocked; but if the municipality of Campos does not carry out sanitation projects and the local public health authorities do not pursue the enemy daily… Hmm!!!)
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1906)

Hygiene in an uproar

Oswaldo Cruz [leading Brazilian bacteriologist and public health figure]: “Oh! terrible phantasm! You’re back here again?! How horrible!”
Yellow: “Hahaha! Did you think I was afraid of your sulfur fumes? Don’t be scared, man! I just came to prove to you that I don’t die of scowls and to warn you that I need some more to close the door in my face… Goodbye! Hahaha!”
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1905)

The wonderful Pariquyna

How’s this for aggressive drug advertising: Though it is labeled as combating all liver diseases, Pariquyna is portrayed as vanquishing a serpent-squid representing many other diseases, and the surrounding endorsements list hepatitis, dysentery, dyspepsia, neurasthenia, and syphilis as targets for its effects. Even bacteriologist Oswaldo Cruz was appropriated.
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1905)

The hygiene of the Church regarding smallpox

Priests: “Deliver us from smallpox, o patron saint!”
Chorus: “Ora pro nobis!“
Oswaldo Cruz [pioneering Brazilian bacteriologist, on the left, with full head of hair and mustache]: “Yes, sir! What a multitude of people! What faith! Before these prayers of the Church the science of the State is barred. I shall decidedly leave! There is nothing else I can do!”
[Minister of Justice J.J.] Seabra: “Leave ?! Don’t talk about it! We will follow the procession to the end.”
[President Francisco de Paula Rodrigues] Alves: “Yes… Yes… Because I am not carrying the Cross [Cruz!] of hygiene to Calvary alone!…”
(O Malho, Rio de Janeiro, 1904) (Compare Seabra versus Oswaldo)