Life, 1911-03-16 · page 18 of 44
Life — March 16, 1911 — page 18: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This Life magazine cartoon satirizes the medical profession's use of vivisection (animal experimentation). The image shows a bearded surgeon or medical authority figure examining a dissected animal, while an oval inset depicts a cherubic child playing with toys—representing "the little boy who never grew up," likely referring to Peter Pan. The satire contrasts innocent childhood wonder with brutal medical practice. The accompanying quote from Surgeon-General Sir James Thornton urges doctors to voluntarily abandon vivisection to avoid humiliation. The cartoon argues that the medical profession should mature beyond such practices, using the "never grew up" metaphor to suggest physicians remain morally juvenile if they continue animal experimentation. This reflects historical animal-rights advocacy against medical vivisection.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE LITTLE BOY WHO NEVER GREW UP “It is to be hoped that the medical profession as a body will perceive the advisability, and, indeed, the necessity, of giving up vivisection of their own ‘accor ill thus avoid the humiliation gf being compelled to, abandon’ it.”—Surgcon-General Sir Jomes Thornton, K. C EBs comicbooks.com