“Salvate la razza dalla tubercolosi!” La lotta antitubercolare nei giovani in epoca fascista a Parma: dalla prevenzione alla propaganda

Abstract

The fascist regime devoted a massive effort to the fight against tuberculosis. In addition to the high mortality rates, there were other unwelcome implications: the image of the pale, frail consumptive and potential corrupter of the race contrasted too much with the fascist ideal of the strong and muscular man and with the need to prepare “the great Italy of tomorrow”. Prevention efforts were concentrated above all on young people, the most affected: despite the reassurances provided by science on the non-transmissibility of the disease to subsequent generations, the breed had to be fortified, erasing the fatal consequences of the Great War and for this reason many propaganda images appeared healthy-looking children, with the motto “Save the race from tuberculosis”. From elementary school to university, the boys were taught to adopt healthy behaviors, to recognize the early symptoms of the disease and were periodically visited by the health officer. In Parma, in addition to these preventive activities, in 1922 the heliotherapy station was inaugurated where children from poor neighborhoods, predisposed but not ill, in the summer months, spent the day in the sun and ate three meals. In 1924, an extracurricular colony or “solar field” was also established, with similar purposes. Later, in 1936 in Marina di Massa, a summer colony also went into operation which, over the years, hosted thousands of children from the province of Parma, in need of sun and sea treatments. In any case, every action to prevent the disease was also used to advertise the regime, but it must be recognized that at the time the foundations were laid for all those public health actions which, in the post-war period, together with the use of antibiotics, made it possible to control the disease.