Combatting Infantile Paralysis with DDT in 1946

San Antonio's Public Health Effort: Spraying DDT to Prevent Polio

Delve into a pivotal moment in public health history with our archival footage from 1946, documenting the use of DDT insecticide in San Antonio, Texas. This groundbreaking effort aimed to halt the spread of infantile paralysis (polio) by eliminating germ carriers. The footage captures trucks moving through neighborhoods and city streets, dispersing DDT in a widespread campaign to protect public health. This rare glimpse into past disease control measures offers valuable insights into the challenges and strategies employed to combat public health crises, reflecting on the evolution of environmental health and epidemic prevention practices over the decades.
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License: Royalty-Free

Part of this Complete Newsreel Film

1946 Military Newsreel Issue #24: From Atom Bomb Tests to Eisenhower's Asia Tour