The quack provision in the tuberculosis law

Rejection in National Council!
(figure bearing various quack cures)
“In Switzerland my wares are as popular as ever!”
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1927)

At least I’m vaccinated!

Max Spring in Nebelspalter (2004).

The fearless one

“It’s Aunt Frieda, she says that she’s not afraid of influenza, and she’ll visit you today!”
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1958)

Small difference

“You see, my dear, the way things are going, I have terrible fear of catching the flu.”
“Oh, you really mean to say you’re afraid that the flu will catch you.”
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1892) (In a similar vein, this Polish cartoon.) (And similar French pun.)

The plague

This is a visually striking cartoon by Heinz Stieger, but I think the epidemic metaphor is overworked, encompassing a host of modern ills, so to speak. With the passage of time, folding AIDS into a plague metaphor should also sit less comfortably with us.
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1987)

The child’s mindset

“Woohoo! The teacher has cholera!”
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1918)

A similar American cartoon from 1914.

Galloping consumption

“Madame, he has galloping consumption.”
“Oh, that’s reassuring, he was always a good rider!”
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1944)

Carnival’s entry

Call it influenza, flu, sleeping sickness–
Despite this lovely trinity
Finally, joyous sounds are coming again this year
The good old days of carnival!
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1920)

Mother Helvetia is thinking!

(The fancy hat at upper left is labeled “obligatory vaccination.” The gentleman standing before Mother Helvetia carries the vaccination law.)

In the picture the grand lady peers indecisively from her seat. Before her lie three soldiers dead from vaccination (don’t do it!), men whose bodies had been given over to the free disposal of the city vaccinator (freedom!). Medicine dreams pleasantly of vaccination practice, while science turns away in shame from the accusation of lying which the opponents (nonsensical!) lodge at her. The citizens count the deceased (more than one as a result of vaccination!) and on the cow sits the lanceman [administering the knick of inoculation] making new sacrifices to the vaccination law, while the mother buries her child who died from a bad inoculation batch. “O century, freedom and science flourish, it is a pleasure to live!” (Evoking the great Reformation thinker Erasmus.)
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1882)

Influenza

Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1890:

Policeman: “Come along, you have influenza!”
Drunk: “Yes, and how? I’ve been looking for a doctor for three days and can’t find one — they’re all sick!”

“What a serious misfortune has afflicted your family!”
“Oh, it’s nothing, we only let ourselves be influenzed!”

“There are people who claim that influenza (achoo!) starts with a headache (achoo!) and delirium (achoo!).”
“Hell, then you’ve got the same thing all year round.”

“Hey, neighbor, don’t cough so loud, I can’t sleep!”
“Oh, if you don’t allow me to cough, I have the right to stop you from sleeping.”

Peace soup

Mother Europe: “I could be eating the soup—even if it’s also over-salted—just fine, and now this impudent fellow is constantly spitting in it!”
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1919) (It turns out this is not a new theme. Compare this version of “peace soup” from 1905 and this one from 1907.)

Annoying passengers

Kronos: “Down in back! For once I’d like to go my way quietly for a year!” (Passengers: epidemics, bad harvests, catastrophes, war)
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1911)

Audience with the little father

Leo Tolstoy: “Unfortunately I was not reposed to receive guests…”
Madame Cholera: “I’m use to entering without notice.”
(Nebelspalter, Zurich, 1908)

From the life of microbes

Last year the left kidney was still the insider travel tip…
(Matthias Schwoerer, Nebelspalter, Zurich, 2010)

Tag: Swiss