The exhumation of a body believed to be a vampire

Vampires and Public Health

At the end of the nineteenth century, the people of Rhode Island were drained by a mysterious force that caused them to slowly waste away.
Dog rejecting a mug of beer

“Where There’s Drink, There’s Danger”

These early temperance movement lantern slides from The Livesey Collection want you to abstain from drinking alcohol. Happy New Year!
An infinity symbol in water

Destroying “Forever Chemicals” For Good

But will it make a difference for cleaning up pollution?
A male janitor stands and bends over a urinal in a bathroom, scrubbing the porcelain with a detergent.

A Short History of the Public Restroom

How come it's so hard to go in sweet privacy when you're out and about?
Concept image of people rejecting a vaccine injection

Why Do Vaccination Rates Plateau?

Two experts discovered a paradox that can lead people to think disease isn't a problem.
An anti-vaccination pamphlet from 1911, a rally of the Anti-Vaccination League of Canada, 1919, and an Anti-Vaccination Society of America advertisement from 1902

Vaccine Hesitancy in the 1920s

As Progressive Era reforms increased the power of government, organized opposition to vaccination campaigns took on a new life.
A slide for preventing hepatitis

These Posters from Mao’s China Taught Public Health Awareness

A series of reforms known as the Patriotic Health Campaign brought colorful posters depicting good hygiene and workplace safety practices.
A graph of the early onset of AIDS from the alleged index case of Gaëtan Dugas aka "Patient Zero".

AIDS, from the Perspective of “Patient Zero”

We now know a great deal about how the man who's often blamed for the AIDS epidemic saw himself and his community. That's important.