U.S. Editorial Cartoonists Pioneered Public Health Advocacy

In the heart of the 19th century, a time of rapid urbanization and technological advancements, cities witnessed a transformation unlike any before. Two significant innovations, the safety elevator and the revolver, ushered in a new era of high-rise construction.

Elisha Otis's "safety elevator," first installed in 1857, promised safer living in mid-19th century cities by preventing cars from falling. This innovation paved the way for a boom in high-rise construction starting in the mid-1880s. However, while brick exterior walls replaced wooden construction, wooden floors and joists remained flammable in high-rise buildings, posing a potential fire hazard.

The new revolvers, introduced in the mid-19th century, were a game-changer in the world of firearms. With shorter barrels, rotating cylinders with multiple chambers, and pre-manufactured bullets that combined gunpowder and projectile in a single cartridge, these weapons were not only easier to use but also democratized gun ownership. Before the mass-production of the Colt revolver, firearms were far more cumbersome, requiring manual loading of gunpowder and shot for each use.

The widespread availability of guns to ordinary people was recognized as a growing threat in the 1880s. This was tragically evident in the assassination of President James Garfield by Charles Guiteau in 1881, an event that underscored the new public safety risks created by these new revolvers.

In the realm of food, the late 1800s saw a significant increase in people's dependence on manufactured foods. However, the lack of food safety regulations continued until the early 20th century. Candy makers frequently added toxic mineral additives to their products to create vibrant colors, a practice that continued unchecked until the progressive movement and works like Upton Sinclair's The Jungle finally prompted significant reforms.

In 1884, New York City's Board of Health destroyed over 72,000 pounds of adulterated confectionery, and an 1884 cartoon depicted this oversight as another tragic risk in high-rise construction. The lack of food safety regulations was a significant concern, with epidemics frequently sweeping through cities due to contaminated food.

The emergence of new publications like "Puck" in the second half of the 19th century was a reflection of the growing awareness of these risks. The magazine "Harper's Weekly" regularly published editorial cartoons about these new weekly publications, contributing to public discourse on public health and epidemiology.

Despite growing awareness of these risks, regulatory efforts were initially weak due to opposition from businesses. It wasn't until 1906 that Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act, protecting consumers from dangerous food additives and establishing more rigorous food safety standards.

The mid-19th century was a time of significant change, with innovations bringing both benefits and risks. While the safety elevator and revolver revolutionized urban living and gun ownership, they also highlighted the need for better food safety regulations and fire safety measures. Garfield's tragic death from complications of the wounds inflicted by the revolver in 1881 served as a stark reminder of these risks, leading to a call for reforms that would shape the future of public health and safety.