Medicine on Screen The National Library of Medicine

TB Sanitorium and Preventorium [Silent] (Producer unknown, 1926)

This silent footage shows not only tuberculosis patients but also healthy children being institutionalized to prevent them from contracting tuberculosis and other diseases. The film opens with aerial shots in 1926 of the South Mountain Restoration Center in South Mountain, Pennsylvania, including the tuberculosis hospital, children's hospital, patient huts, open air pavilions for patient sunbathing, staff golf course, and patient burial ground. It also shows close up exterior shots of huts, hospital, chapel, patient store (interior as well), nurses' home, and the burning of the auditorium.

Reminiscences of TB Sanitorium and Preventorium (1926, narration added 1988)

This program is the narrated version of the 1926 film, T.B. Sanitorium and Preventorium. The narrator, Walter L. Zeigler, was a patient at the South Mountain Restoration Center in South Mountain, Pennsylvania, as a child in 1939 through 1940 and later worked there as an adult. He provides insight and stories of therapies, patients, and the nurses who worked there. His narration covers the entire film that shows, not only tuberculosis patients, but shows healthy children being institutionalized to prevent them from contracting tuberculosis or other diseases.

Symptoms in Schizophrenia [Silent] (Pennsylvania State College, 1938)

This film describes and demonstrates four types of schizophrenia. Filmed at various New York institutions, it shows patients singly and grouped in large, outside recreational areas. Some patients are blindfolded. Symptoms shown include: social apathy, delusions, hallucinations, hebephrenic reactions, cerea flexibilitas, rigidity, motor stereotypes, posturing, and echopraxia. Produced by Pennsylvania State College.

Sources of Air Pollution (USPHS, 1962)

Shows the principal sources of air pollution--factories belching smoke, industrial waste dumped in rivers, and auto emissions. Learn more about this film and search its transcript at NLM Digital Collections: http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101640831 Learn more about the National Library of Medicine's historical audiovisuals program at: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/hmd/collections/films

Alerte: Science Contre Cancer ( l'Office national canadien du film, 1950)

This is the film Challenge: Science Against Cancer accompanied by a French soundtrack. It illustrates the importance of continued research in laboratories around the world in order to solve the problem of cancer, and aims to explain the current difficulties in identifying causes and cures. It begins with an overview of the birth of man from one cell and explores the complexity of the human body. It shows the isolation and testing of cancer cells and explains the effects of heredity and environment on normal cells.

Le Cancer (l'Office national du film du Canada, 1950)

This film is excerpted from the full-length Challenge: Science Against Cancer. Portions are presented in French and portions in English. A patient, Mr. Davis, enters the medical office. He is shown to have a treatable cancerous lesion on his face. Several doctors discuss the case and the recommended treatment. The film shows cells and cell division, laboratories, the use of microscopes, and experiments with mice. The treatment for Mr. Davis begins immediately and uses radium.

NLM's History of Medicine Section

NLM's History of Medicine Division collects, preserves, makes available, and interprets for diverse audiences one of the world's richest collections of historical material related to human health and disease. Take time to view HMD's fascinating playlists on the NLM YouTube channel. Please note that some digitized films made available by the NLM may contain material that some viewers may find to be challenging, disturbing or offensive. Viewer discretion is advised.

Challenge: Science Against Cancer (Canada Dept. of Health & Welfare, US Nat'l Cancer Inst., 1950)

This film attempts to explain why researchers are having a difficult time discovering the causes and cures for cancer. It begins with an overview of the birth of man from one cell and generally explores the complexity of the human body. It shows the isolation and testing of cancer cells and explains the effects of heredity and environment on normal cells. It explains the difficulties of tracing several generations for heredity research and the multitude of chemicals, etc. which affect cells and turn them cancerous.

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.

Unsuspected (National Tuberculosis Association/Trident Films, c1951)

After almost hitting Johnny Walsh with her automobile, public health nurse Linda Thorpe is introduced to the child by a local storekeeper. Linda recognizes Johnny as a newcomer to the area and, after hearing that his mother is pregnant, takes the opportunity to meet the family. During the visit, Linda persuades Johnny's mother, Mary, to see a physician for a prenatal check-up, during which a chest x-ray reveals she has an "unsuspected" case of tuberculosis.