Life — August 6, 1885 — page 1: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Political Cartoon Analysis: "A Last Resort" (Life, August 6, 1885) This cartoon satirizes the proprietor of the "Daisy" dairy farm during what appears to be a public health crisis or contamination scare. The figure, dressed as a wealthy businessman, stands amid large milk containers while discussing desperate measures with associates. The caption suggests that if their pump fails and dairy meters stop working (preventing milk distribution to the city), they'll resort to keeping contaminated milk themselves rather than discarding it—implying deliberate poisoning of their own supply as economically preferable to loss. The satire targets both unscrupulous dairy operators and urban food safety concerns prevalent in 1880s America, when milk contamination and adulteration were genuine public health threats. The cartoon exposes the callous prioritization of profit over consumer safety.