Life, 1929-02-01 · page 29 of 40
Life — February 1, 1929 — page 29: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a **vintage advertisement**, not a cartoon or satire. It's a Listerine product promotion from Life magazine (likely 1920s-1930s based on design). The page contains two separate ads for Listerine antiseptic: 1. **Left side**: A shaving cream advertisement showing men discussing "the perfect shave" with Listerine shaving cream, claiming it kills bacteria like typhoid germs in 15 seconds. 2. **Right side**: A cold-prevention ad suggesting rinsing hands with Listerine before meals to stop germs from entering the mouth via food. **Historical context for modern readers**: This reflects pre-antibiotic era medicine (pre-1940s) when antiseptics were promoted as near-universal remedies for bacterial infections. The claims are wildly exaggerated by modern standards—Listerine cannot prevent colds (caused by viruses, not bacteria) or cure typhoid. The ads exploit genuine public health concerns about disease while overselling a mouthwash product as a medical solution. This aggressive medicinal marketing was common before modern FDA regulations.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
CREE SLAKRBS. ag a Life 27 How to avoid SORE THROAT... and COLDS JOINED YET? Get in the circle of men who've found the perfect shave— the cool shave with LISTERINE SHAVING CREAM Tests show amazing power against bacteria Kills typhoid germs in 15 seconds More than fifty diseases, some slight, some dangerous, have their beginning in the nose or throat. Therefore, an irritated throat demands immediate attention. It may be the symptom of a cold—or worse. The germs causing the irri- tation must be killed before they get the upper hand. Listerine, used full strength as a gargle, is a powerful aid in kill- ing germs. Repeated tests by laboratories of national repute Prove it. For example. Listerine, full strength, in 15 seconds de- Stroyed even the virulent M. Aureus (pus) and B. Typhosus’ (typhoid) germs. Yet Listerine is so gentle and safe it may be used undiluted in any cavity of the body. Now you can understand why millions rely on Listerine to avoid ordinary sore throat and colds en- tirely, and to check them should they gain a throat hold. You'll be amazed to find how quickly Lis- terine brings relief. If, however, a feeling of sore- ness persists, call your physician. It is no longer a matter with which an antiseptic can deal. Keep a bottle of Listerine handy at home and in the office, and at the first sign of throat irri- tation gargle repeatedly with it full strength. Lambert Pharmacal Company, St. Louis, Mo., U.S. A. Prevent acold this way? Certainly! Millions of ordinary colds start when germs, carried by the hands to the mouth on food, attack the mucous mem- brane. Being very delicate it allows germs foothold where they develop quickly unless steps are taken to render them harmless. You can accomplish this by rinsing your hands with Lis- terine, as many physicians do, before each meal. Listerine, as shown before, is powerful against germs. Use only a little Listerine for this purpose—and let it dry on the hands. This simple act may spare you a nasty siege with a mean cold. It is particularly important that mothers preparing food for children remember this precaution. LISTERINE The safe antiseptic comicbooks.com