Life, 1917-03-29 · page 31 of 42
Life — March 29, 1917 — page 31: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
**"Getting Even with the Surgeons"** satirizes a South Dakota legislative bill holding surgeons financially liable for removing healthy appendixes. The piece argues this law, while seemingly protecting patients from unnecessary surgery, might actually destroy surgeons' business model—implying many surgeons depend on performing unnecessary operations for income. The satire suggests the bill's real aim may be eliminating the surgical profession altogether rather than merely regulating it. **"Vale" and "Under the Fig Tree"** are brief satirical verses. "Vale" jokes about a plumber's endless work, suggesting tradespeople create unnecessary jobs to stay employed—paralleling the surgeon critique. "Under the Fig Tree" nostalgically contrasts Adam's paradise (no bills, free clothing changes) with modern consumer expenses, lamenting lost simplicity. The illustrations show domestic/social scenes supporting these themes of modern commercial exploitation versus simpler times.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Getting Even with the Surgeons N South Dakota there has recently heen introduced into the State legis- rea bill which denies to a surgeon for removing an appendix ich, upon examination, is not dis- wyment eased. That is to say, if through ignorance + cupidity a surgeon removes an ap- s own time and trouble. The patient i course, or be an invalid the st_of his life, and lose the time and fier the inconvenience and distress f an operation, But even so, he is cularly supposed to have the laugh the surgeon. Yet we must not he too hard on the this bill. On the surface it looks as if the pa- ntleman who introduced vent even then has the worst of it. Dut if the surgeons are to lose pay- ment for fll unnecessary operations, ill they have to go out of business ltogether ? Perhaps that’s what the gentleman was aiming at, EDUCATED CONSCIENCES Vale S the plumber finished his work?” “Oh, yes, over two hours ago. He is almost ready to leave.” Old Lady: on! Gracious! ca IT TOOK US TEN MINUTES TO GET 'EM STARTED.” I GUESS NOT. Under the Fig Tree VE. picked day, And cl thrice, Yet Adam had no bills to pay O Paradise! O Paradise! fresh costumes every nged them twice or maybe "T YOU STOP THEM ?