Judge, 1930-01-18 · page 8 of 36
Judge — January 18, 1930 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine Page Analysis This page satirizes early 20th-century anxieties about germs and hygiene products. The top cartoon depicts executives of the Dobbo Pharmaceutical Company conducting a bizarre experiment with a culture of germs, appearing to test whether germs can survive various treatments. The humor relies on the absurdity of treating this dangerous experiment as a casual business meeting. The bottom cartoon, credited to C.D. Russell, shows two men in what appears to be a basement or warehouse, with the caption "Y'know, Joe, I ain't had a physical examination since I got out of the army." This jokes about poor hygiene and lack of medical care among working-class or vagrant men, reflecting Depression-era concerns about public health and economic hardship.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Shake Well Before Using Four solemn, distinguished-looking gentlemen, wear the conventional white apron of the medi profes- sion, sat round a mahogany table in the directors’ room of the Dobbo Pharmaceutical Company, Inc. On the center of the table lay a big batch of germs—millions of them. The di- rectors peered into test tubes, knitted their brows in deep thought, and said nothing. At last the president broke the tense silence: “Gentlemen,” he began in a sterr voice, “we are about to conduct our big experiment. If it is successful we stand in a fair way to make our fortunes.” The secretary handed the president a bottle of Dobbo. The president ceremoniously shook the bottle, re- moved the cork and let a drop of the newly discovered germicide fall on the culture of germs. The treasurer, holding a stop- watch in his hand, looked up suddenly and said: “Boys, they're all dead. It took just fifteen seconds.” Svroron—Don’t take this so seriously, my good man. I'll have you in stitches in @ minute! “They probably drowned,” the president said. “L think we'd better hold a mirror close to them,” said the secretary. “So they can primp?” asked the president, straightening his tic. 6 “No, stupid; to make sure they're dead. If moisture appears on the face of the mirror we'll know the: still breathing. It’s an infallible test.” “There's no use of unbuttoning their coats and vests and listening for heart- beats, is there asked the vic president, rolling up his sleeves. “No, fellows. I think w that ‘10,000,000 en seconds,’ The treasurer make doubly sure I'm going to dump them on the floor and jump up and down on them.” “Now for advertising,” said the president, rubbing his hands together. “How about ‘Broke At 76 and Can't Get Into a Club’?” “Or ‘Buy Dobbo Toothpaste, and with the $3.00 a year saved buy a toothbrush suggested the vice- president. The secretary said: “Colds are germs—germs live on you can often prevent pouring Dobbo into started by hence pneumonia by your shoes.” “And, at the same time keep them shoes; comicbooks.com