Public Health and USPHS by The National Library of Medicine

Community Health and You (McGraw-Hill Text-Films, 1954)

Teenagers learn how the average health department--working with community hospitals, family physicians, and private agencies--helps to maintain high standards of health. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9616517 Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collections/films

The Innocent Party (Kansas State Board of Health, 1959)

This film addresses the problem of syphilis in teenagers. The opening scene depicts a couple of teenage boys meeting girls at a club in a city. It is implied that they have sex. One of the boys, Don, is later seen leaving a dance with his girlfriend, Betty. On their way home, he convinces her to have sex with him. She is visibly upset afterwards, and he appears to feel guilty. He soon notices a sore, and mentions it to the friend who went to the city with him. The friend advises him to just ignore it and let it go away on its own, but Don decides to see a doctor anyway.

It Takes Your Breath Away (British Medical Association, 1964)

The effect on the lungs of living in a polluted atmosphere is briefly shown on pathological specimens. Two patients are seen, one of whom had to change his job on account of reduced respiratory capacity due to bronchitis. This film uses very evocative footage of polluted city centres and inner city housing ; showing widespread burning of fossil fuels in industry and the home, as well as a hospital. The results are smutty deposits over everything.

Tobacco or Health (PAHO/WHO, 1988)

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.

Public Enemy (USPHS,and Westinghouse, 1960)

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.

Hand Ditching for Malaria Control (USPHS, South Carolina State Board of Health, 1949)

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.

Rodney (National Tuberculosis Association, 1950)

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 Diagnosis of Syphilis by the General Practitioner (USPHS, 1943)

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.