Judge, 1921-04-16 · page 26 of 32
Judge — April 16, 1921 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This comic strip satirizes the frustrations of accessing a doctor in what appears to be the early 20th century. A desperate parent tries repeatedly to reach their family doctor after their baby develops croup (a respiratory illness), encountering a series of obstacles: the doctor isn't in, is on house calls, is busy, his line is busy, his office staff can't locate him. The parent waits escalating periods, tries multiple contact methods, eventually visits in person—only to have the doctor arrive home, dismiss the illness as minor ("a fine child"), and leave an expensive bill anyway. The satire targets doctors' inaccessibility, high fees relative to actual help provided, and the gap between urgent patient need and physician availability. The exaggerated, frantic running figures emphasize the parent's mounting desperation against bureaucratic obstacles.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
———¥ f JUDGE Docror Catts Docror’s orrice—ts To. Doctor 18 ON MIS WAY TO OFFICE Carts Doctor's orrice 1s NOT IN Carts Docror’s orrice—Docror NOT LOCATED YET Watts THIRTY-FIVE MINUTES Carts Docror’s orrice—Doctor WAITS THIRTY-SEVEN MINUTES "ruonep “ Leave atessace” Warts Tex aunutes Carts Doctor's orrice—Docror HAS RETURNED BUT IS BUSY Returns Howe—rinps pany cured BY HOME TREATMENT D 1s TOLD THAT Doctor CANNOT LEAVE OFFICE UNTIL AFTER OFFICE HOURS Trying to Get the Family Doctor When Baby Has the Croup Carts Doctor's orrice—Docror 18 MAKING HOUSE CALLS. Waits THIRTY-SIX aUNUTES Leaves request ror Doctor 10 COME AT ONCE a ‘Trazs ro catt Docror’s orrice— Is Ton “Line Is Busy.” {i"t. Doctor ARRIVES AND REMARKS THAT wany 1s. A “Fixe Curtp.” Puree Doctor's ASSISTANT AGREES TO to Locate Docror By TELErn Catts Docror’s Orrtce “We Ane Hor on Doctor's Tr. om ge aul’ Watts THIRTY MUNUTES. OMT TRY ONE. TOLD att.” x Decives to catt at Doctor's OFFICE IN PERSON. ey Leaves BILL AND DEPARTS. comicbo: oks.com