In America today, thanks to the spirit of these pioneers, 7,250 women doctors carry the lamp they lighted even further along the path of human service
In 1946, women made up only a small fraction of doctors, but represented a steadily increasing fraction of smokers. This advertisement not only utilizes medical testimony and pseudoscience, following the “More Doctors smoke Camels” campaign, but also latches onto the women’s liberation movement and salutes women who have lead the way in the field of medicine. By associating the famous Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), the original “Lady with a Lamp,” with the modern female doctors of 1946, this ad seeks to attribute more authority and trustworthiness to the claim that more “men and women in every branch of medicine” smoke Camels. Florence Nightingale was an English nurse famous for her work tending to wounded soldiers during the Crimean War. She was viewed as entirely selfless, often making rounds at nighttime, earning her the nickname “Lady with a Lamp.” In this image, the head mirror and lamp identifies the female physician as an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) – the modern “version” of Florence Nightingale. This ties in with the notorious “T-Zone” theme of throat protection at the lower right. Many ads of the time featured “throat doctors.” Note that the M and D, the first letters of the first two words, are accentuated in red, reinforcing the associated cigarette with medical prestige.
Cough, Doctor, Female, Fresh, Irritation, Mild, Nurse, Throat, Voice
