Life — March 10, 1927 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Runs in the Family" - Analysis This page combines educational content with advertising for Metropolitan Life Insurance. The central cartoon depicts two elderly men in conversation, with the caption "'How's the rheumatiz today, Joe?' 'Pretty bad—but got to expect it—runs in the family.' 'Mine, too. Father had it before me.'" The satire mocks the widespread folk belief that rheumatism is hereditary and inevitable. The article clarifies that rheumatism actually comprises two distinct diseases: acute rheumatic fever (an infectious germ disease) and chronic arthritis. The joke exposes how common people mistakenly accept family illnesses as fate, when medical understanding shows many causes are preventable or treatable. The insurance company uses this to promote preventive health measures and their services as protection against such afflictions.