DDT, Weapon Against Disease (US Army, 1945)

The discovery of D.D.T. during World War II, its effectiveness against lice, mosquitoes, and flies; tests made on its effectiveness; and examples of the good results it has shown in controlling military and civilian epidemics are presented. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9502511.

The Army Nurse (United States War Office, 1945)

Released in the closing months of the Second World War, this film explores the work of the army nurse in part from the perspective of a wounded soldier. Intended to be shown to a variety of audiences including servicemen, nurses, and potential recruits to nursing, it has a reassuring message about the skill and effectiveness of the army nursing service. It also comforts its audiences with a story about the therapeutic uses of femininity. The film opens with a soldier wounded in action. Coming out of delirium, the first person he sees is a female army nurse, who smiles and winks at him.

Easy to Get (US Army Service Forces, 1947)

In story format, over footage of soldiers picking up girls in a drug store and in a night club, the dangers of sexual intercourse with pick-ups and prostitutes are emphasized. The results of untreated gonorrhea and/or syphilis are shown ina man with swollen knees, a man having a heart attack, an infected penis, a bed-ridden older man, and a man whose speech and memory have become defective. Over and over, the narrator urges the viewer to use condoms, visit the pro station, and report to his medical officer immediately if he suspects that he has contracted a venereal disease.

Use Your Head (US Navy, 1945)

In animated humorous cartoon, the enlisted man is instructed to use only designated areas for urination and defecation. The dangers of dysentery and fly-borne disease are outlined. The locale is the Asian jungle; the enemy is Japan. Film is aimed at marines in jungle camps. Produced by Hugh Harman Productions for the United States Navy. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9419629.

First Aid for Non-Battle Injuries (US Army, 1943)

In this film, the elementary principles of first aid for soldiers in the field are presented. The emphasis is on what the soldier should do before medical help arrives. He is shown how to put everyday objects and personal items to good use in emergency situations. The film is narrated over footage of soldiers in the field.

DDT in Control of Household Insects (U.S. War Department, 1947)

This film outlines the control of household insects in military establishments. Flies, roaches, and bedbugs can be controlled by good sanitation and the use of DDT. The equipment and techniques to be used are shown. Identification of presence of pests is discussed. Treatment of barracks, kitchens, and mess halls is shown. NLM Unique ID: 9432127 Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collections/films

Practical Rat Control: Ratproofing (U.S. Army and CDC, 1950)

This film presents in detail the aspects of design, fabrication, and installation of building materials so that rats are denied access to structures whether through doors, windows, basements, or roof areas. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9423676. Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collections/films

Survival Stresses (US Air Force, 1961)

Presented as a film within a film, an Air Force officer gives a lecture to a class of fliers about survival skills, using a combination live action-animated film to illustrate the workings of the body and its reactions to difficult situations. Discusses major physiological and psychological stresses that may be encountered in a survival situation in the Arctic, in the desert, in the tropics, and on water. Describes methods of detecting, understanding, and combating such stresses as hunger, thirst, cold, fatigue, and fear. Shows how to recognize and avoid dehydration.

Drinking Water (US Navy, 1945)

A United States Navy training film In humorous animated cartoon format, the soldier is instructed to drink only water from safe supplies. The consequences of not rationing one's individual water supply when away from camp are shown. The dangers of drinking from untreated water supplies are shown. The locale is the Asian jungle; the enemy is Japan. Film aimed at marines engaged in jungle warfare.

Die englische Krankheit (Third Reich and UFA, 1941)

To toggle captions between German and English, select Settings button to the right of the “CC” symbol (place cursor in the movie frame itself, lower right). In Subtitles/CC box, change preferred language by clicking on the arrow. Captions: Leonhard Link. Made during World War II by the German Ministry of Health in collaboration with UFA, Germany's largest movie studio, this short film combines Nazi propaganda with a discussion of the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of rickets in infants and young children.

Introduction to Combat Fatigue (US Navy, 1944)

This formerly restricted film was intended to be shown to patients suffering from combat fatigue. A medical officer/narrator explains the nature of fear and how it helps the body and mind cope with threatening situations. Profiling a soldier named Edwards, the narrator explains how combat fatigue begins, grows, and finally incapacitates the soldier. Aboard a ship headed for the combat zone, Edwards feels excitement and tension. In the combat zone, he behaves as expected -- he leaves his ship, wades ashore, penetrates a jungle area, and fires at the enemy. He is afraid but not cowardly.

Medical Service of the Finnish Armed Forces in the Winter: Paper in the Care of Casualties (1948)

his film is an English language version of a captured German film that describes the uses of paper products by the Finnish armed forces in protecting their wounded from freezing during initial treatment and evacuation. Paper proved to be good protection against wind and cold, it was inexpensive, fairly strong, and it could be used repeatedly. The film consists of footage of troops dressed in white cold-weather gear fighting in snow-covered terrain and of corpsmen caring for the wounded and demonstrating the uses of paper products.

Vulnerability to Covert Attack (U.S. Army Chemical Corps, 1959)

This film describes the vulnerability of population centers to covert biological warfare, identifying ways in which nerve gas or other agents could be unleashed on a populated area. The physiological effects of nerve gas and psychochemicals such as LSD on animals and humans are shown, with extensive footage of live animal experiments using rabbits, cats, and goats in open areas (a trench) and closed vehicles (a tank). Soldiers are shown attempting to march in formation before and after ingesting LSD.