The war with insects

Bugs bearing bags of infectious bacteria. “Everyone to war with disease-bearing insects.” Soviet Ukrainian Commissariat of People’s Health, 1920.
(Russian State Library)

Cognac and the Spanish disease

Mr. Kankkus: “Pekka told me that cognac is also the best medicine for Spanish disease. I am happy to believe that, because now I have no fear of Spanish disease.
By the way, I think the whole thing about Spanish disease is just nonsense.”
Mrs. Kankkus: “I wonder if my husband could die of Spanish disease?”
Doctor: “No … but delirium tremens.” (Tuulispää, Finland, 1920)

Epidemic didacticism

“A filthy man is a hotbed of lice and fleas. Lice transmit the typhus contagion and relapsing fever, and fleas infect us with smallpox and plague.” (Ukrainian People’s Commissariat of Health, 1920) A pity that Soviet didacticism in service to public health still managed to send mixed messages about class. (Russian State Library)

Cholera, filth, and impurities

“Don’t eat street food, it’s FILTHILY prepared and stored.”
Detail from cholera public health poster, Orel, Russia, c. 1920.
(Full image at Russian State Library)