Life, 1929-06-28 · page 4 of 37
Life — June 28, 1929 — page 4: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page uses the ostrich metaphor (top illustration) to satirize public denial about cancer. The opening compares people who ignore cancer symptoms to ostriches mythically burying their heads in sand—they avoid confronting danger by refusing to acknowledge it. The text debunks four widespread misconceptions: that cancer is hopeless, should be hidden due to shame, cannot be conquered by medicine, or can be cured by quacks. The real satire targets "plausible quacks" who exploit cancer patients' fear and ignorance, offering fake "cures" while legitimate doctors and early detection through surgery, radium, and x-rays actually save lives. This appears to be a Metropolitan Life Insurance Company public-health advertisement promoting medical expertise and early intervention over superstition and charlatan medicine.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Life hiding their heads in the sand in time of danger has been disproved again and again. Neverthe less the expression “hiding his head in the sand like an ostrich” aptly describes the man who seeks to avoid danger by refusing to recognize it when it comes. ini old notion that ostriches have the habit of ACH year thousands of people die of cancer— needlessly—because they fog as true some of the mistaken beliefs about this disease. No. 1—That every case of cancer is hopeless. It is not. No. 2—That cancer should be concealed because it results from a blood taint and is disgraceful. It is not. No. 3—That nature can conquer a malignant cancer unaided. It can not. No. 4—That cancer can be cured with medicine, with a serum or with some secret procedure. It can not. Many cancer patients are neglected or avoided because of the mistaken belief that cancer is contagious. It is not. Be on Watch for First Signs of Cancer Be suspicious of all abnormal lumps or swell- ings or sores that refuse to heal, or unusual discharges from any part of the body. Do not neglect any strange growth. Look out for moles, old scars, birthmarks or warts that change in shape, appearance or size. If you have jagged or broken teeth, have them smoothed off or removed. Continued irritation of the tongue or any other part of =» the body is often the beginning of cancer “3 trouble. In its early stages, various kinds of cancer yield to skilful use of surgery, radium or xtays. Frequently a combination of surgery and x-rays or radium saves lives that would other- wise be lost. But with all their skill and with their splendid records of success, the best doctors in the world are powerless unless their aid is sought in time. Beware of Plausible Quacks Because cancer is usually spoken of furtively or in confidence, and because its nature and origin are largely shrouded in mystery, quacks and crooked institutions reap a cruel harvest. They prey upon the fear and ignorance of those who do not know the facts concerning cancer. ‘They are often successful in making people believe that they have cancer when they have not. Later, with a great flourish, they boast of their “cures”. Gratefully the patients of the fakers, first thoroughly alarmed, later entirely reassured, are aud to sign testimonials with which new victims are trapped. Beware of those who advertise cancer cures, An annual physical examination by your family physician, or the expert to whom he sends you, may be the means of detecting cancer in its early stages. Do not neglect it. Send for the Metropolitan's booklet, “A Message of Hope”. Address Booklet De- partment, 79-F, Metropolitan Life Insur ance Company, New York, N. Y. METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY~NEW YORK Biggest in the World, More Assets, More Policyholders, More Insurance in force, More new Insurance each yeat comicbooks.com