11 Bizarre Ways They Treated The Flu In The Olden Days

A guide to treating and preventing the flu circa a long time ago.

1. You’d smoke bomb your lungs.

1880: Cure influenza with this “smoke ball” (right, if by “cure” you mean “feeling groovy”) as endorsed by the Duke of Portland! You’d insert tubes in your nose, then squeeze the ball to release vapors of carbolic acid.

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2. This was the hospital. Blerg.

In 1918, the world was hit with one of the worst pandemics, which killed 20-50 million people worldwide. Welcome to your new home: a hospital made of rows of tents.

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3. Wear super attractive contraptions.

Don’t want to die and living in the year 1919? Then wear this crazy flu mask.

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4. Spray down the busses with anti-flu spray.

1920: The old-timey version of Purelling the crap out of something.

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5. Wear the fashion statement <i>du jour</i>: flu masks.

1929 was huge for the flu mask—all the chicest ladies had one.

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6. Or opt for one of these “germ traps.”

1932: The powers of a roll of toilet paper on your face.

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7. Fourth period: gargling class.

Class of 1933. This was actually a thing.

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8. Get yourself to an anti-flu spray party!

Things start getting crazy in 1937.

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9. If all else fails, wear a sign, stoopid.

1939: Stop kissing this baby, for the love of God.

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10. Don’t forget to take care of the animals, too.

In 1950, a turkey gets bundled up to ward off colds and flus … so folks can eat him later!

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11. Finally, we arrive at the modern flu shot.

All of a sudden, flu shots become very, very fun.

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