Life — December 15, 1927 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Great Imitator" - Syphilis Public Health Campaign This is a public health advertisement by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company about syphilis, which they call "The Great Imitator" because it mimics symptoms of other diseases (rheumatism, arthritis, heart/kidney trouble). The central image shows a figure displaying six different masks or faces—representing how syphilis disguises itself as various conditions. The text emphasizes syphilis's devastating effects: blindness, deafness, paralysis, and insanity if untreated. The advertisement appears during the era (likely WWI or after) when the U.S. government conducted public awareness campaigns about venereal disease among soldiers. The message combines fear-based messaging with calls for frank, open education rather than secrecy—a progressive stance for the period regarding discussing sexual health publicly.