Life, 1907-07-25 · page 15 of 22
Life — July 25, 1907 — page 15: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page attacks mandatory vaccination through satire and mock-serious "evidence." The top cartoon jokes that funeral processions go unnoticed because people are too busy paying bills—suggesting vaccination deaths are commonplace and ignored. The main content, "More Kickers," presents a leaflet allegedly by "Major Boudren" quoting doctors claiming vaccination causes consumption, cancer, and death. The illustration of a dead mule sarcastically notes that Arkansas courts awarded $512.50 damages for a vaccinated mule's death, but offers no such protection for vaccinated children—implying children's lives are valued less than animals. This reflects early 20th-century anti-vaccination sentiment, presenting debunked medical claims as fact. The satire's target appears ambiguous: it may mock either anti-vaccinationists or pro-vaccination authorities, though the overall effect amplifies vaccine hesitancy arguments through ridicule dressed as evidence.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE NECESSARY RITES “yey, aly THERE'S A FUNERAL PROCESSION AND NO ONE SEEMS TO NOTICE IT.” “WHY, GRANDMA, THAT’S ONLY THE MEN WHO COME UP SATURDAYS TO PAY THE BILLS.” 1 Remember REMEMBER, I remember The house where I was shorn; The hallowed place where little lambs Come peeping in at morn; ‘The playful bears, and friendly bulls Who wisely counseled me, And where I bought at 88— And sold at 23. How She Knew HE: Your last book was a success, wasn’t it ? HE: Yes. “The reviews were so unfavorable I was almost tempted to read it.” Getting Down to Particulars RS. SLIMSON: Shall I read you his animal story, Willie? Witue: With or without? “With or without what?” “ Affidavits.” More Kickers A LEAFLET floating in our direction and entitled ‘‘ Major Boudren’s Re- ply to Unknown Author,” deals with vac- cination in the manner that seems de- ficient in reverence, The following ex- tract, for instance, may not be quoted with enthusiasm by the old-school doctors: Doctors with Eyes and Conscience (From hundreds of medical testimonies against vaccination.) Dr. Alexander Wilder: Consumption follows vaccination as effect follows cause. Dr. Dennis Turnbull: In my judgment the most frequent disposing condition for cancerous development is infused into the blood by vaccination and revaccination. Dr. Adolf Vogt: After collecting the particulars of 400,000 cases of smallpox, I am obliged to confess my belief in vac- cination is absolutely destroyed. Dr. W. Hitchman: 1 have seen hun- dreds of children killed by vaccination. Dr. Zachary T. Miller: What does it profit you, if by your efforts you have gained perfect health, and your govern- ment vaccinates you, and you are ren- dered a cripple? How It Works on a Mule DOWN AND OUT—VACCINATION DID IT The above illustration shows the effect of vaccination upon Arkansas mules. The owner of one sued the vender of the stuff that killed eight mules, and re- covered $512.50, showing that there is value to a mule that does not attach to a child. comicbooks.com