"World Map of the Major Tropical Diseases",
Period: 1944 (published)
Publication: Life Magazine
Color: Printed Color
20.6 x 14 inches
52.3 x 35.6 cm
This incredibly visual and somewhat disturbing map of the world was illustrated by Boris Artzybasheff and shows the distribution of major tropical diseases across the globe. Those areas of the world highlighted in pink are at risk for Malaria (basically all warm weather regions), while the insect and vermin symbols represent the primary agents for the various diseases described at bottom including Yellow Fever, Typhus, Yaws and Leprosy to name a few. Before World War II began, these diseases were the specialty of medical missionaries in far off places. However, war exposed tens of thousands of troops to these afflictions and it became necessary for both military and civilian doctors to be informed of the signs and treatments.
References: PJ Mode Collection #2003.01; Rumsey #9113.
Vivid color with a couple of small edge chips and creases in the top corners of the sheet. There are small staple holes along the centerfold where the map was previously bound in the magazine.