Historical Audiovisuals from the National Library of Medicine Tuberculosis (TB), while rare in the United States today, remains a potent killer in developing nations. In the U.S. in the mid-20th century, the impact of TB was real and devastating. In this 1944 film, farmer Peter Borik has tuberculosis but refuses to be treated in a sanatorium. He remains bedridden at home, where no precautions are taken against the spread of infection. Both his daughters contract TB, and one dies.

This film stresses the importance of routine oral examination to detect infections or early diagnosis of oral cancer. Dr. Robert Johnson demonstrates a routine oral exam while explaining the procedure. The film also shows oral cancers in their early stages of development. The film concludes with an appeal by the Chief of the U.S. Public Health Service's Cancer Control Program, Dr. William L. Ross. He urges dentists to examine and test for oral cancer, arguing that the patient's overall health, not just their teeth, is the dental practioner's responsibility.

This film shows children at the Far View Health Camp in Cortland County, N.Y. It provides an overview of who can attend and why the camp should be supported. The film begins when the campers arrive at the start of camp and then takes the viewer through a typical day. It includes footage of children at meals, sleeping, at flag-raising, cleaning, playing, at story hour and doing arts and crafts. African American children are shown in this film. Publisher unknown.

This film documents the rubella study group and nursery in the child development clinic at Texas Children's Hospital. The study group worked to rehabilitate 150 children with congenital rubella syndrome, a maternal viral infection that can cause hearing impairment, visual impairment, or motor handicaps. During the 1964-1965 epidemic, an estimated 20,000-30,000 children were born with congenital rubella syndrome.

Chronicles an outbreak of syphilis among teens in the fictional town of Oakdale. A girl, Lynn, has a few dates with a wealthy boy, Hal, then goes to see her family doctor when she develops a rash. Though the doctor considers syphilis, he doesn't test Lynn initially, thinking it can't be true. The role of the state and local public health departments in tracking down contacts of infected people and testing them is shown. The primary state health investigator is shown confidentially interviewing the teens.

Through the use of a compact series of explanatory examples, this film points out the value of modern dental care with emphasis on the use of fluorides, focusing especially on school-age children and how dental care and education can be delivered in that environment The film describes how a rural community organizes a topical fluoride program and how an urban community institutes fluoridation of the public water supply. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9605135.

Published in Washington, DC: The Service, [1942] This film outlines the individual's role in combatting syphilis through education, blood tests, prompt medical treatment, and avoidance of quacks. Shots includes montage of quack remedies for venereal disease. Produced by United States. Public Health Service.

Primary stage: The characteristic lesions of early syphilis are shown on the penises of infected men and in the genital area of women. Gloved hands palpate a penis for interior chancre; a woman is vaginally examined with the aid of a speculum and a cervical sample is taken with a swab. Lip and finger chancres are shown. Non-syphilitic lesions of the penis are shown. Diagnosis by repeated blood tests of all persons with suspect lesions is required. The taking of a smear for dark field examination is shown. The spirochaeta is shown under the microscope on a dark field.

Dr. Leroy Burney, Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service, and other authorities discuss the hazards of air pollution, its major causes and what is being done to control it. The film shows air sampling apparatus and an exhibit and scenes from the Community Air Pollution Conference in Washington, D.C.

The film begins with a plea to the viewer to buy Christmas seals. In film graphics, the story of a young man named Rodney is told. Rodney walks through his town and visits his physician for a yearly physical examination. An X-ray suggests tuberculosis. Further tests are done, and the diagnosis is confirmed. The doctor outlines the process of infection and the population at risk. The necessity of rest cure is explained. Rodney is shown in a tuberculosis sanitorium as his physician tells him that tuberculosis can be cured in any climate with rest and proper food.

The conditions which necessitate hand-ditching are outlined. The proper engineering and digging techniques for the construction of swamp drainage ditches are presented. Shots include: swamps in South Carolina; inspector in a swamp dipping for larvae; putting the larvae in vials for shipment to a laboratory; spray larvaciding on foot; surveying the swamp for ditching; work crews digging drainage ditches; swamp water running through the ditches; intersections of the ditches.

This film shows the work of the mobile syphilis detection and treatment unit of McIntosh, Glynn, and Camden counties in rural southeastern Georgia. The inside of the mobile clinic is shown. The films shows the route taken and the unit going into canneries, wood pulp factories, logging camps, country dance halls, elementary schools, and churches to treat patients with bismuth and arsphenamine injections. It shows both the Kahn and Wasserman blood tests and explains how to read the results.

The purpose of this presentation is to illustrate the problems and emotional crises faced by a family when the young mother contracts tetanus. This is achieved in a dramatized portrayal of her life and activities using a flashback technique. The program stresses the importance of immunization, which is virtually 100% effective. In this presentation the mother is shown critically ill in the acute stage of tetanus following a superficial skin scratch while gardening.

Video focuses on the serious hazards of smoking, including how second-hand smoke affects those exposed to it. The move to ban smoking in public places is mentioned, as is regulation of cigarette advertisting and the trend towards banning smoking on airplanes. A series of short vignettes with people miming the grinding-out of a cigarette is shown. Yul Brynner's televised "Don't Smoke" plea recorded shortly before his death from lung cancer is shown.

This film presents the basic principles of first aid, the circulatory system, improvised tourniquets, use of bandages, treatment of shock, burns, artificial respiration, and splints. Produced by the United States Public Health Service;.