Photo Credit: Duke University Libraries

In this 1945 advertisement of ScotTissue, a mother showcases one way the toilet paper can be used when it is cold season. “Millions are Grateful for its Luxury Texture” so why not use it as an improvised mask since the cold is the “Most dread[ed] menace to your baby’s safety.” According to the advertisement:

Tissue Make easy to make, disposable

It takes only a minute to make an effective mask with two thicknesses of ScotTissue. Simply cover the nose and mouth and pin or tie at the back of the head. Clinical tests prove that two thicknesses of ScotTissue effectively trap germs and greatly reduce infection risk.

Wear a mask when you are actually in the baby’s room of course – and also when you are fixing his food or attending to his clothes. your baby’s busy hands can pick up germs and transfer them so quickly to his mouth. Never let a used mask lie around – a ScotTissue mask is instantly disposable and you can make a fresh one when you need it.