Masks in 1918

11 Laws to Help Stay Well

It's interesting to compare the masks worn during the 1918 influenza epidemic with the masks worn in 2020 to avoid Covid 19.  The picture below is not copyrighted and therefore is in the public domain.  So far my family and I have escaped Covid, but we're growing weary in our well doing, which is all we have to keep us well.

Most of the advice given here is spot on, even though it is expressed in the quaint lingo spoken 102 years ago. "Do not take any person's breath," the first command on the list, is an excellent thought. Now we are trying to practice social distancing and wearing masks for the purpose of not breathing the expelled breath of others.

"Keep the mouth and teeth clean" became "practice good oral hygiene" at some point in the past. This piece of advice may help us not to catch a cold, the flu, or covid. Cleanliness may help, but we all know it's not going to keep us safe.

I love the wording of the next admonition: "Avoid those that cough and sneeze." Doing so is impossible. Some of us have asthma, hay fever, or a common cold. Now the current advice is cough into your sleeve or elbow. Turn your head away from people when you cough or when others cough near you. Try to stay away from those droplets. Further down the 1918 list is the advice, "Cover your mouth when you cough and sneeze." Masks cover mouths.

"Don't visit poorly ventillated places."  That was 1918. Now in 2020, how many buildings have inadequate air exchange?

1918: "Don't use common drinking cups, towels, etc."  2020: Place paper towels in your bathroom. Did you know that commercial paper towels that are loose are cheaper than rolls?

"Avoid Worry, Fear, and Fatigue."  Good idea. We'll try.

1918: "Stay at home if you have a cold." 2020: Stay at home.

1918: "Walk to your work or office." 2020: Stat at home.

1918: "Wear a gauze mask in a sick room." Those gauze masks didn't work well. Now we know we are supposed to wear multilayered masks when we go near people. Masks are miserable, but Covid can be worse than death. 

BTW, a mask must cover both the nose and the mouth.