Now Wash Your Hands

Sound familiar? One of a wide range of adverts that ran in response to the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.

Of course, back then there was no radio, no TV, no internet, no email, no social; Just papers, periodicals and flyers, so on-page advertising was crucial.

Even though it was over 100 years ago, the messages in the adverts could have been written in early March this year:

• Wear a mask.
• Cough, sneeze into a handkerchief.
• Avoid crowds.
• Ride a bicycle. (i.e. take exercise as all sport was banned) 

Slightly more questionable advice included: 

• Eat more onions! 
• Gin pills to beat the flu.
• Drink Bovril. 

Reference: Henry Newrick, 2020, ‘Classic Ads, cartoons, comics and headlines; Spanish Flu 1918′. Kindly shared by Patrick Collister and Malcolm Auld.