Pages

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

In The Navy Of The 1970s, Syphilis Was A Cartoon Vampire (VIDEO)


Sometimes a cartoon vampire named Count Spirochete* is the only way to get sailors to use protection.
In 1973, the Navy made a 20-minute animated movie warning sailors -- in graphic detail -- about the dangers of venereal disease. The plot: The annual Communicable Disease of the Year Awards sees a huge upset when Venereal Disease, represented by the syphilis-carrying Count Spirochete, wins the coveted Fourth Horseman award over diphtheria and smallpox.
It's such an upset, in fact, that the host must explain in great, cringe-worthy detail, the history, science and symptoms of syphilis. Think lots of tiny horned devils stabbing mucus membranes with their pitchforks.
The movie was dug up this week by the military's Armed with Science blog (tagline: Get Scienced!) and is available on VHS for $55.
Or you can watch it here. Enjoy:
 

The Return of Count Spirochete (1973)

*The count is named after "spirochetes" -- the class of bacteria that spawns diseases such as syphilis and Lyme disease.

This video was shared on DOD's Armed with Science blog: http://go.usa.gov/1fl.

Produced for the National Naval Medical Center in 1973, The Return of Count Spirochete is a delightful animated cartoon dramatizing the medical facts about venereal disease. 

As the story begins, we join the (probably) world famous "Communicable Disease of the Year Award" ceremony, which acknowledges the one disease that has "done the most effective job of contaminating others." Smallpox, diphtheria, tuberculosis, and the common cold are all serious contenders for the coveted "Fourth Horseman."

However, in a surprising turn of events, the award goes to Count Spirochete (aka syphilis), much to the chagrin of the other contestants. In response to their outrage, the master of ceremonies then proceeds to explain in graphic detail the various reasons why Count Spirochete is deserving of the award.

For more DOD science and technology, visit DOD's Armed with Science blog at http://science.dodlive.mil.
[H/T: Spencer Ackerman, who beat us to it]

No comments:

Post a Comment