One of Sixteen Million (Arthritis Foundation, 1968)

This cartoon features a main character named George who finds himself feeling old, achy, and exhausted. He falls down, drops things often, and is unable to keep up with his family. George's wife suggests that he see a doctor, and he reluctantly goes. He is diagnosed with arthritis. The doctor uses scientific terminology that George cannot understand, and he feels defeated by the situation. His friends suggest a number of possible remedies for his arthritis, none of which sound promising to George. His condition worsens, and he again grudgingly visits the doctor.

The Battle to Breathe (Independent Life & Accident Insurance Co., 1968)

This film features three elderly men, Bill, a former soldier, Frank, a former construction worker, and Harry, a former farmer, all of whom now have emphysema. An interviewer visits each man to ask about his experiences with and thoughts about the disease, starting with Bill. Bill's wife laments that he has grown very weak and can now do nothing recreational except read and weave. He is a schoolteacher, but he spends almost all of his free time in bed. Bill admits that he feels judged by people in public and is embarrassed about his condition.

Tobacco and the Human Body (Encyclopaedia Britannica Films, Inc., 1954)

This film starts with a look at the cultivation of tobacco and its role in the economy, and moves on to an examination of the many substances found in cigarettes, how those substances are transformed by burning, and the harmful effect of smoking on the body. Effects on the nervous, cardiac, and respiratory systems are described and shown with animated sequences. Animal experiments that illustrate the physiological impact of nicotine, tar, and other substances are shown.

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.

Research in the US Public Health Service Hospitals (U.S. Public Health Service, 1961)

The work and patient population of the USPHS hospitals is outlined. Dr. John J. Walsh, director of research at the Seamen's Memorial Laboratory in New Orleans gives a report of the research activities carried out at the Laboratory. These include research in parasitic infections, in regional perfusion in the treatment of malignancies, in the dilated heart, in endoplasmic cellular membranes, in drug action at the basic macromolecular level, and in the effect of drugs on the force of the contraction of the heart muscle.

The Search for Cancer Viruses (NET Science and USPHS, 1966)

This Net Science film begins by introducing a child named Sandra with leukemia and following her as she gets routine blood work done. The narrator then explains that scientists are seeking to prove that a virus is the cause of cancer in humans. Doctors Grace and Stuart are called upon to help explain the present knowledge. The narrator explains that cancer is a disease of the cells, and then gives a brief description of cells, and shows through time-lapse photography how normal cells and cancerous cells reproduce differently under a microscope.

Pathological Findings in the Stomach: Fluoroscopic Observations (N. Schenker and R. Janker, 1953)

Cinefluorography shows chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, and carcinoma at the lesser curvature and advanced carcinoma in the upper part of the stomach. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/8701015A Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collections/films

Threshold (Audio Productions, 1969)

This film presents medical research and treatment in the field of anesthesiology. The application of research-based anesthesiology in surgical, respiratory, and intensive care units for the critically ill, and the diagnosis and treatment of persistent pain, are shown and addressed. Physicians discuss how much is still unknown about how anesthesia works, how they prepare patients to participate in research studies, and their inclincation to test certain approaches on themselves before using them on a patient. The challenges of pediatric surgery are mentioned.

The Human Brain: A Dynamic View... (Robert B. Livingston and Univ of California, 1975)

Using a technique called cinemorphology, this presentation illustrates the organic structure of the human brain. In the process, a brain is first embedded in plastic. Then the plastic block is placed on a giant microtome which slices off sections as thin as 25 microns. After each slice, a motion picture camera automatically photographs the newly exposed brain surfaces remaining in the plastic block and, when these sections are shown in sequence, a dynamic picture of the brain structures results.

Surgical Correction of Dissecting Aneurysm of Ascending Aorta... (Baylor College of Medicine, 1963)

This program presents a case of a thirty year old man with Marfan's syndrome to illustrate the surgical procedure for correcting a dissecting aneurysm of the ascending aorta with aortic valvular insufficiency. The patient's preoperative physical findings and aortograms which indicate the need for this surgery are presented. In this instance the entire ascending portion of the aorta is involved. The transverse and descending aorta are not considered unusual.

Multiple Sclerosis (National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 1967)

Oriented toward the practitioner and the student, this program discusses the etiology, diagnosis, clinical courses, and management of multiple sclerosis. The program achieves its objective primarily through the use of five case studies of individuals with multiple sclerosis to show the clinical course and symptoms associated with the disorder. Three of the case studies, a twenty-three-year-old female, and a forty-three and forty-one-year-old male, represent an episodic disseminated type of multiple sclerosis.

Decompression Sickness Project (Edmund Newton Harvery, 1944)

This film shows experiments conducted during World War II on behalf of the National Research Council to better understand decompression sickness. Dr. Edmund Newton Harvey was best known for his research on bioluminescence, but he also conducted applied research in areas such as wound ballistics and aviation physiology. In these experiments, Harvey explores the phenomenon of bubble formation in blood and tissue.

Cancer Among Veterans: Early Diagnosis (U.S. Veterans Administration, 1946)

This film describes cancers of the mouth, lip, throat, neck, eye, nose, and skin in both early and advanced, severe stages. It discusses the need for early diagnosis and treatment, probable causes of such cancers, the need for research, and the modern facilities available at the Veterans Hospital in Hines, Illinois. Produced by the U.S. Veterans Administration.

Diabetics Unknown (Public Affairs Committee, Inc., 1962)

This film, using the documentary technique, is coupled with a seven-minute discussion about identifying and living with diabetes, featuring national experts on the disease. Several individuals of varying ages and backgrounds who have diabetes discuss their symptoms, discovery of, and life with the chronic illness. The film stresses how many people have diabetes but don't realize it--the "diabetics unknown." It urges an annual physical checkup for everyone, particularly persons in the highest risk categories and those who show possible symptoms.

Malignant Tumors of the Lungs (Assn of American Medical Colleges, 1953)

This film shows, by means of cinefluorography, the normal lungs, bronchiogenic carcinoma, carcinoma with abscess formation, metastases of seminoma, and metastases of sarcoma with bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/8700985A. Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collections/films