Downstream from the Vistula River

“They dismiss me as a troublesome foreigner, and yet I’ve got a proper passport from friendly Russia!”
(Lustige Blätter, Berlin, 1905)

From the good neighbor

Out of paternal concern for the country, the Prussian government did not let swine and trichina across the Russian border. Then cholera was approaching from the land of the hereditary friend — and immediately the barrier was lifted!
(Der wahre Jacob, Stuttgart, 1905) (With thanks to Alexander Maxwell.)

I’d rather die right away

“They’re announcing that cholera will be back within three or four years…”
“No… first of all, if I knew that, I’d rather die right away.”
(Le Journal amusant, Paris, 1905)

The iconic Oswaldo Cruz

I lack the Portuguese knowledge to translate all these cartoons in full, but in this post I just want to highlight the iconic status of bacteriologist and public health leader Oswaldo Cruz (1872-1917). For an avowedly secular publication like O Malho, Cruz as the standard-bearer of modern medicine clearly exerted tremendous appeal, though of course its satire often drew attention to the many obstacles in the way of achieving his aims.
(Each image links to the appropriate issue.)

Vaccine-mandate war!… (1904)

The journey of the mosquito czar. Reception in Victoria (1905)

Journey of the mosquito czar — arrival in Bahia (1905)

Essential cleaning (1907)

One more broom… (1907)

Cruz in provincial Pará (1910)

In Pará: Mosquito plague does not kill Governor Coelho (1911)

Federal intervention in Ceara (1914)

At the Pharoux Quay: The messiah of consumption (1908)

The great magician… of coincidences

Roping it in time (1908)

The challenge of tuberculosis (1906)

Plagues on the go (1907)

See also this multi-panel cartoon from 1905. And another from 1908. And a marvelous color cartoon from 1907. And this vaccination cartoon from 1904. Ditto.

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)

A pedant

“… And now, mademoiselle, before you grant me your heart for life, one other question: Have you been successfully vaccinated?”
(Fliegende Blätter, Munich, 1905)

Hygiene

“Alright then, Marty, so how did you like big city Vienna?”
“It was all pretty nice. If only I had someplace to spit!”
(Die Muskete, 1905)