Forensic Research Archive of Manipulation and Exploitation
Only x-ray-radium-surgery-ever cured cancer, 1941 US poster: Public health poster in stylised red, grey and black

Only x-ray-radium-surgery-ever cured cancer

Public health poster in stylised red, grey and black: three framed panels show an x-ray machine, a radium treatment and a surgical scene, with the words 'only x-ray, radium, surgery ever cured cancer'. The sheet names three treatments as the only cures and leaves out any other (card-stacking), a flat statement of the then-current medical position.

Propaganda techniques used in this poster

Card stacking
Date
1941
Period
Second World War
Made by
U.S. Public Health Service, Fellnagel
Region
North America
Country
United States
Medium
Poster
Issuer type
State
Regime
Roosevelt Administration
Leader
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Audience
Domestic public
Purpose
Warn or inform
Theme
Health
Event
World War II
Regime
Roosevelt administration
Leader
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Source
Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
Source
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
Rights
Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Public Health Service, Fellnagel. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-1464 (NAID 515128).

Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

only x-ray-
radium-
surgery-
ever cured CANCER
UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
[signature:] fellnagel
[mark:] 3

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