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.