Life — June 28, 1928 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "Another Headache" - Life Magazine Advertisement This is a satirical advertisement for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company disguised as medical/social commentary. The "headache" is a metaphor for life's problems and dangers. The opening joke references a town bell that rings to signal fire—cutting the rope to silence the alarm while the fire rages is presented as obviously foolish. The parallel message: taking headache pills to mask symptoms while ignoring underlying causes is similarly unwise. The piece lists legitimate headache causes (indigestion, fatigue, sinus trouble, emotional strain, etc.) and warns against habit-forming drugs that merely provide temporary relief. The central pitch: see a doctor to find the *real* cause rather than self-medicate. This pitches Metropolitan Life's insurance and free informational booklet as the responsible solution to life's health uncertainties—a clever blend of public health advice and corporate marketing.