Tuberculosis WWII era 1944 Walt Disney cartoon / educational film (Spanish language), 400′, color. Informative and educational Disney animated short from 1944 about tuberculosis, emphasizing its contagiousness and the importance of taking precautions. Educational film produced under the auspices of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs. The film describes tuberculosis as man’s deadliest enemy and tells how it can be cured. It stresses prevention and communication.
Production 2754
Delivered (Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs) 5 August 1944
Director: Jim Algar
Music: Paul Smith
Story: Jim Algar, Glen Scott
Additional story: Retta Scott, Don Griffith
Voices: Art Baker (narration), Jim Macdonald, Violet Bayerl (coughs)
Layout: Don Griffith, John Niendorff
This film explains what tuberculosis (TB) is, how it spreads, and what a person with the disease should do to protect their family and community.
What is Tuberculosis?
0:31 The film begins by describing the lungs and their function, comparing them to a bellows that fills and empties with air.
0:58 Tuberculosis is caused by “tiny invisible germs” that enter the body through the nose and mouth. The film uses an analogy of a leaf being eaten by insects to show how the germs eat away at the lungs, destroying them.
1:58 It is a “communicable disease,” meaning it can pass from a sick person to a well person.
How Tuberculosis Spreads
2:06 The film shows an example of Mr. Smith, a shopkeeper with TB, who coughs frequently. His customer, Mrs. Brown, is exposed to the germs over a long period. The germs travel through the air, and she breathes them into her lungs.
4:36 The doctor explains that germs can also be spread through close contact, like a cough to the face, or from a distance. For example, a sick person who spits in the street can spread germs. The germs can live for several days in dust in a shaded place until the wind picks them up and they are inhaled by another person.
5:58 Another common way the disease spreads is through poor ventilation. A sick person coughing in a room without windows can fill the air with germs, dangerously exposing their family.
Diagnosis and Prevention
3:34 After feeling weak, tired, and losing her appetite, Mrs. Brown begins to cough. Her husband takes her to a doctor.
3:52 The doctor examines a sample of her sputum and uses an X-ray machine to see inside her body. The X-ray plate shows a spot on her lungs, confirming she has TB.
5:45 The doctor tells Mrs. Brown that she must isolate herself from others to prevent spreading the disease to her family.
6:54 Mrs. Brown goes home and follows the doctor’s instructions. She rests in a separate, well-ventilated room, covers her mouth when she coughs, and uses a special spit cup and personal dishes that are kept separate and scalded in boiling water. She also washes her hands often.
7:46 Boiling water and sunshine are shown to kill the germs. Mrs. Brown’s clothes and blankets are aired in the sun.
8:07 Good food is also important for building a healthy body. The film lists healthy foods like fruits, meats, vegetables, and milk (which should be boiled to kill germs from cows with TB).
9:27 By isolating herself and taking these precautions, Mrs. Brown protects her family and community. The film concludes by stating that tuberculosis can be cured, but its spread can be prevented by isolating the sick from the well.
