Life, 1903-10-22 · page 8 of 20
Life — October 22, 1903 — page 8: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page from *Life* magazine satirizes medical quackery and the public's gullibility. The main article, "Johnny Germ in a New Dance," mocks a fraudulent "typhoid bacillus serum" marketed as both a cure and preventative. The text quotes the *London Zoophilist* describing how the serum works—a clear parody of legitimate scientific claims, likely referencing actual patent medicine scams of the era. The cartoon illustrations show victims of this deception. The bottom cartoon captioned "Alias: DRAFT THESE MODERN OFFICE BUILDINGS!" depicts a man being crushed by enormous weight, suggesting the financial burden of purchasing such fake remedies. The satire targets both unscrupulous medicine-sellers and credulous consumers who believed pseudo-scientific claims without evidence—a common target of *Life*'s social commentary.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
386 Johnny Germ in a New Dance. Adantic. YHE bacillus sport still remains gl popular on both sides of the The Medical Brief, according to the London Zoophilist, “ de- 1 3 @ new abomina- “Typhoid bacilli are crushed in liquid air, and the product in- jected into animals. This is the ‘charm’ part of the business to impress credulous man- kind. When the serum of the decrepit old horse is thought sufficiently de- praved, it is drawn, thoroughly ized with powerful antiseptics, ready for administration in a di notably amenable to treatment with antiseptics, good care and nursing.’ ” ‘The Zoophitist then pays, incidentally, a touching tribute to Pasteur's im- mortal discovery : “This wonderful new serum is not only acure, but a prophylactic. That is, if you take it and do not have typhoid fever, it is all due to the Alas: DRAT THESE MODERN OPricE RULLDINGS } E MY STOLE AND EVERY St ny serum, just as Pasteur’s inoculations against hydrophobia prevent the onset of the disease, if you are not in the least danger of being afflicted with it.” It really does seem about time for Johnny Germ to leave the centre of the ‘scientific’ stage and give the next fad a show. The hour has come when the audience is neither impressed nor scared, and there seems to be no use in langhing. A Law. I I USBAND: Dear me! Another gown, Wire: But it’s only a little one, dear. ‘Well, it’s my experience that the less your clothes cover you, the more expensive they are.’’ IN Tue vEsTRY ? s SURPLICE. THE KNAVE LEPT THE NAVE. Table of Time and Capacity. 10 CENTS....... 1 DRIN' 10 DRINKS.... 1 DRUNK, 1 DRUNK..... 10 DAYS. Outlines Indicated. (CROWQUILLER : Dasherby Dil- lingham didn't like the way I reviewed his new novel. Inkpots: What did you say? “I said it belonged to the school of the nine commandments,”" cert’nly is su'prisin’ what ore I these furriners will do," said the resident of Cape Cod, ‘ but there’s thet lady in the cottage hes went and hed brown bread on Wednes- day !"" comicbooks.com