Spanish Flu "Do Not Do's" in the 1918 Los Angeles Times

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dont kiss her now.jpg

As we know, the COVID-19 pandemic is not the first pandemic we’ve experienced. The 1918 influenza pandemic, called the Spanish flu, was caused by an H1N1 virus that originated in birds. It infected half a billion people, or about a third of the world’s population, between February 1918 to April 1920. It killed between 17 million to as many as 100 million people.

This image from the L.A. Times in December 1928, “Don’t Kiss Her Now!” provided advice to readers. Advice has evolved quite a bit since then during our own pandemic. :)

DON’T DO THESE THINGS

  • Don’t kiss your sweetheart while “Spanish flu” or pneumonic plague is on!

  • You might kill her - or him, by passing a deadly germ along.

KISSING SPREADS FLU

  • Don’t sneeze or cough in anybody’s face. Use your handkerchief to cover nose and mouth.

  • Don’t neglect or laugh at a “common cold.” It may be the first symptom of “flu!”

  • Don’t worry. Worry is weakening.

  • Don’t visit “flu” victims unless you really must do so. Then wear a “flu” mask.

  • Don’t use a common drinking cup anywhere.

  • Don’t use a common towel anywhere.

  • Don’t put pencil or penholder in your mouth. There may be “flu” germs on it!

  • Don’t put money in your mouth. Put it in your pocket.

  • Last but not least…Don’t pet dogs or cats. They carry germs in their hair.

And there you have it.