Judge, 1912-04-13 · page 7 of 24
Judge — April 13, 1912 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical essay attacking doctors' practices and ethics in early 20th-century America. The top cartoon shows a motorist injured in a car accident; the joke is that a doctor visitor wants to sell him another car rather than treat him—implying doctors prioritize profit over patient care. The essay mocks doctors for: charging exorbitant fees ("one dollar per snore"), using outdated bloodletting practices, relying on druggists to sell unnecessary treatments, and exploiting patients' trust. It ridicules their pretensions to expertise while noting many lack genuine competence. The author sardonically observes that shrewd citizens learn to decode both gas meters and doctor's prescriptions to avoid financial ruin. The bottom diagram—"Evolution of an Operation"—appears to show progressively more invasive skull procedures, likely satirizing unnecessary surgical interventions. The overall tone suggests public frustration with medical profession overcharging and questionable practices during this era.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Visitor- Nurse- Visttor—** Oh, that 's all right A Dissertation is derived from wise HE NAME ‘‘docto: a Greek word meaning ‘ta guy.'’ The wisdom of the species comes from the experience gathered in medical- college fraternities in their early days, augmented by careful practice in double-entry bookkeeping. Doctors must have at least one degree, but that does not seem to keep someof them from remaining at zero. No doctor is successful without a practice, though in their case practice rarely makes perfect. The courses followed by doctors are those of the allopath, the horneopath, the os- teopath, and sometimes the straight and “Can I see that motorist who was brought here an hour ago?"” He hasn't come to his senses yet."” on narrow path. The custom of bleeding patients by doctors dates back many years, and still exists in a less sangui- nary though more painfu! form. Clever doctors, aided by the druggists who fill their prescriptions, are responsible for many checks for diseases, though they receive but little thanks from suffering mankind for their pains. The shrewd citizen of the twentieth century learns early in life how to read his gas meter and his doctor’s prescriptions, and there- by often saves himself from premature bankruptcy, and sometimes from prema- ture death. Doctors abhor newspaper advertising, but have never been known to throw fits at the sight of items in THE EVOLUTION OF AN OPERATION. I only want to sell him another car."* Doctors. their home papers to the effect that ‘‘the operation performed by Dr. Soandso on Mr. Soandso was entirely successful and the patient will soon be out again.’’ When a doctor tells you that you need change and rest, provided he has a gilt-edge reputa- tion, he usually lets you keep the change and he takes the rest. A doctor places a high value on his sleep. Call him in at nigkt and he will not hesitate to bill you at one dollar per snore. After all, though, we need the doctors and the doctors need us. Pro- vided they will allow us, let us live and let live. N.C. Blereer, comicbooks.com