Life — March 6, 1931 — page 4: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is **not a satirical cartoon page**, but rather a **public health advertisement** by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company addressing tuberculosis risk in teenagers. The illustration shows a well-dressed young man and woman, representing healthy adolescents. The accompanying text warns parents that the "teen age" is a critical health period when tuberculosis—then a major killer—poses particular danger due to rapid physical development and potential overexertion from social activities or school work. The message is straightforward health advocacy: teens need physical check-ups, proper nutrition, and rest to build resistance against tuberculosis. The company offers a free booklet on tuberculosis prevention. This reflects the early 20th-century context when TB was epidemic and insurance companies positioned themselves as civic health educators, not satirists.