Life, 1914-12-10 · page 7 of 40
Life — December 10, 1914 — page 7: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes post-WWI social reforms, specifically the "Medical Trust" movement advocated by progressives. The dialogue depicts a young doctor treating a wealthy patient who initially refuses care, then learns the doctor must serve "desirable citizens" and bring "no revenue" — mocking the contradiction between socialist ideals and practical implementation. The accompanying illustration ("The Horse Show of 1920") depicts a chaotic scene with skeleton horses, suggesting the satire extends to the absurdity of implementing these new social orders. The skeletons imply that such reforms would result in economic or social "death." The magazine ridicules both progressive healthcare reform and the wealthy's resistance to redistribution of medical services, presenting the "New Order" as fundamentally impractical and ridiculous.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The New Order (1950.) “T HAVE come to treat you regu- larly.” The young doctor who had just entered the room smiled complacently as she gazed at him in the utmost astonishment. “To treat me regularly!” she ex- claimed. “What can you mean? I am perfectly healthy, never had a WATCRFUL WAITING: doctor in my life, There is absolutely nothing the matter with me.” Her guest made a note in his book. “Good!” he replied, “That was the report we had, but it is always Letter to have it confirmed from head- quarters. Sure there’s nothing the matter with you?” “ Absolutely nothing.” “Fine! We will begin treatment at once.” “What do you mean, sir?” In reply the stranger opened his coat and showed his badge. “You see, madam,” he said, “the Medical Trust now controls the gov- ernment. It is our aim to make the practice of medicine as universal as possible. In order to do this, we must, of course, continue our experiments. It, therefore, follows that healthy per- sons, as undesirable citizens, bring in no revenue. To-morrow, madam, at three for your first serum treatment. Good morning.” THE MORSE SHOW OF 1950 comicbooks.com