Life — February 4, 1892 — page 11: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# "The Practice of Medicine" This satirical illustration critiques medical bill collection practices. The cartoon shows a doctor's office scene where well-dressed women converse while a man sits at a desk reviewing medical invoices. A separate vignette depicts two skeletal figures (representing Death) in what appears to be a tent or confined space, with a caption questioning whether a patient died "an easy death" or faced difficulty. The handwritten bill visible references Dr. A.V. Pooguevich and itemizes medical services with associated costs. The satire suggests that doctors prioritize billing and debt collection over patient welfare—the grim reaper vignette implies patients may die while physicians focus on financial accounts rather than their actual health outcomes.