Life, 1927-01-13 · page 6 of 39
Life — January 13, 1927 — page 6: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Metropolitan Life Insurance advertisement promotes childhood vaccination against smallpox. The illustration shows a mother tucking a child safely into bed, with the headline promising security through vaccination. The text argues that mothers can now protect children from smallpox—historically a devastating childhood disease—through safe vaccination under government supervision. It contrasts this with the pre-vaccination era, when smallpox killed thousands, often disfiguring survivors. The ad addresses parental hesitation by emphasizing vaccination's safety and necessity, noting that immunity fades over time. The emotional appeal—a child "safe" in bed—suggests that vaccination provides the peace of mind mothers seek. This is primarily insurance company advertising rather than political satire, promoting public health while marketing life insurance protection.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
{AT a joy it is to tuck him in his warm, fleecy blankets—happy in the thought that everything that can be done to keep him safe from harm has been done. today. They can tuck their babies in bed and rest secure in the know- ledge that many of childhood’s greatest enemies need never touch them. For one thing, their babies probably will never have smallpox. These wise mothers have seen to it that their little ones are protected by vaccination. Press ter are the mothers of How different it was before vaccination was discovered. Then mothers were powerless against this terrible disease. Among children who died, under 10 years of age, smallpox was responsible for one out of three deaths. Smallpox was more prevalent than measles. Few escaped and the children suffered most. Over and over again it swept the world, leaving its thousands of dead, thousands cruelly disfigured, thousands blind and leaf. Then came the history-changing discov- ery—vaccination—and the number of deaths from smallpox went down and down. The end would have been reached but for the well-meaning, but misinformed persons who clamored that “vaccination is a crime"—that “sunshine and cleanliness, not vaccination, drive out smallpox”. If such reckless statements are believed and parents do not have their children vaccinated, smallpox may again attack the children as it did a little more than a century ago. In certain parts of the country, smallpox among children is again on the increase! In the past, when arm to arm inoculation was common and persons were inoculated direct from smallpox patients, there were many deaths following attempts at pre- vention. Today, vaccination is safe. The only mishaps that can occur are due tc carelessness in protecting the vacci- nated area. The vaccine now used is pro duced under the control and supervision of the United States Government. Smallpox comes from unsuspected sources. Because it takes 12 days to develop, it is possible for immigrants or returning travellers to bring smallpox into the country with them. Smallpox can be stamped out only by systematic vaccination. Every child should be vaccinated before he is one year old and again ‘during school years. Immunity wears off in time—anywhere from five to fifteen years—and leaves one again susceptible. Is it more than seven years since you were vaccinated? Now—before the danger is upon you— make sure that you and yours are pro- perly protected. Be safe. Published by Before the Philippine Ie lands were occupied by the American Army in 189% thousands of persons di from smallpox every year. Vaccination carried on un- der the direction of Army officials drove smallpox down to only 273 deaths in one year. Then came a period when vaccination of children was neglected. Asa result, the worst epidemic of times broke out in 1918-19 with 60,855 deathe—75 cent of which were of chil- dren under 9 years of age. ‘Dar 48 states can be classi- fied in three groups—those in which vaccination is com »thosein which it is optional and those which have no laws for vaccination. Statistics show the lowest ayeroge Busaber of coees: per 100, population inthe “compulsory” states, the next highest averazz in the wcptoael. states and the highest inthe “no-law” states. The Metropolitan Life Insurance ory of Jenner”, the man who dis- covered vaccination. Send for them. HALEY FISKE, President. * METROPOLITAN LIFE. INSURANCE COMPANY~NEW YORK Biggest in the World, More Assets, More Policyholders, More Insurance in force, More new Insurance each year comicbooks.com