H1N1 1918 flu pandemic. Historical caricature of the 1918 influenza pandemic. Also called the Spanish flu, this pandemic killed between 50 and 100 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1920. Skeletons are playing musical instruments while a doctor standing next to a patient displays a public quarantine notice signed "in the name of the Faculty". Cities that put quarantines in place had lower death rates than those that didn't. Across bottom, three drug measures are named: antipyrine (a drug used to treat influenza and fevers since 1884), quinine (used as an antiseptic gargle with little success), and fleurs pectorales (a traditional herbal remedy). This French artwork dates from the early 20th century. http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/300588/enlarge