Life — September 15, 1887 — page 9: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "McCann Trying a New Poison" This political cartoon depicts a figure labeled McCann (likely a political or public figure from Life magazine's era) attempting to administer poison to someone. The scene shows a dark interior space with the perpetrator in period dress leaning over a victim on the ground. The satire appears to reference McCann's political schemes or policies characterized as harmful or "poisonous" to the public. Without additional context about which McCann this refers to or the specific historical period, the exact political grievance remains unclear. However, the metaphorical framing of political action as attempted poisoning was common in satirical publications of the era to convey that a figure's policies or actions were dangerous to society.