Life, 1917-04-19 · page 34 of 42
Life — April 19, 1917 — page 34: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes modern medical efficiency and automation. The cartoon "An Absorbing Process" imagines a future doctor who operates a machine (numbered switches) that simultaneously diagnoses patients, performs surgery (removing an appendix), and handles billing—all while the patient sits passively in a "luxurious chair." The humor targets the depersonalization of medicine: the doctor delays the patient's concerns by telling irrelevant stories, conducts an operation without the patient's knowledge or consent, and invokes "new State law" to justify the automatic billing. The term "absorbed" (used for both the appendix removal and the patient's involuntary payment) reinforces the satire. This likely reflects 1920s anxieties about mechanization, corporate efficiency encroaching on personal healthcare, and loss of patient agency—concerns that remain relevant today regarding medical bureaucracy and automated systems.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
ESPaE For Smart Desserts YVETTE (Pronounced E-vet ) There are dozens of refreshing ices and delicious desserts to be made with Créme Yvette. There is a smartness and a sparkle to them all, and of their variety there is no end. You'll enjoy these violet desserts. Créme Yvette for confections, too. Try this recipe, fora most enticing sweet— YVETTE CREAMS By Mr. Robert Bari, Chef Patissier at Cafe Savaria Onepoundof confectioners’ sugar; five teaspoonfuls of Créme Yvette; one-half pound chopped walnuts; the white of an egg. Stir until this thickens and make into my 6 size or shape of candy you wish. and let harden. Creme Yeate(on =| at nancy grocers on wine dealers, of recipes by well-known chefs sent free. Write for it now SHEFFIELD COMPANY 7th Ave. and I4th St. New York An Absorbing Process (As It May Be) E seated, sir. The man who had entered the doctor’s office a few moments before in obedience to the invitation sank into a luxurious chair, The doctor looked at him casually, and, touching an in- dicator at the side of his desk, said: “What a pleasant day.” “Yes, it is.” A nurse appeared at the door, “Turn on number nine hundred and eleven,” said the doctor. “Very well, sir.” The doctor turned to the patient. “T heard a most amusing story the other day,” he said. “ But—" “Just a moment. I am quite sure you will be interested in hearing it.” He told the stpry. The patient stirred impatiently in the chair, although the story was amusing and he laughed at it. “By the way,” he began, looking at his watch, The doctor got up. He turned off the switch at his desk. “Tt is all right, sir. You may go now.” “ But I came in to see you about—" beaten path Trips by saddle and pack = team orauto-through NewMexico Arizona Enchanted Land:penonally conducted Visi€ India: bios Gllmpees of Navatolite Ca hunt, feat ters writefer Wed. Rat, Pam Tl ar Applicant for Position: MY NAME 18 Jones. Clerk: WHAT 1S YOUR MAIDEN NAME? THAIS The famous Meditation from Massencet’s “Thais,” played by Howard Brockway, peautifully demonstrates the wonderful effects of tone-color and phras- ing obtained exclusively is YTHMOD. MUSIC ROLLS In the April Monthly Bulletin you will also find 150 foxtrote ae many one-steps and such records ast Valse Imprompta - $1.30 Nocturne Opus 30. No. 2, Copia 130 New Popular Music Ire @ Shooting Box in Scotland Silver Bey = - Dear Heart Mine 1 Wonder Why, Love O° Mite Hesitation Blses ALL HAND PLAYED. AMERICAN PIANO CO. 437 Fifth Avenue COUPON Pleese send me a Rythmodik Catal pot te on the mailing lst of the Monuhly Bulletha Te “Yes, the operation has been per- formed. I should be a little bit careful for a few days if I were you. Don't play golf or walk excessively “You mean to say that——” “Your appendix has been removed in accordance with your symptoms.” The patient smiled incredulously. “When did you do it?” he asked. “While you were sitting there. Per- fectly simple. It was absorbed.” “How did you know what was the matter with me?” “That chair sends a record of your symptoms—in fact, diagnoses your case completely—to the laboratory. All you needed was to have your appendix rempved, and by turning on number nine hundred and eleven it was ab- sorbed in three minutes. Nothing strange, sir, Quite usual, I assure you.” The man got up. His face grew rather pale. He advanced to the desk. “How much do I owe you?” he asked. The doctor smiled again. “That has all been arranged, sir.” “What do you mean?” “According to the new State law which has just gone “nto effect, while you were being operated on your prop- erty was transferred to me. Good morning, sir. Call again.” R. HYDE,” said Dr. Jekyll, “ the worst villainy you commit és to make me forget, whenever I go to the newsdealer’s/ to leave an advance or- der for Lire every week.” T I n non- reacl of ar and calle Gert that tropi cord and and she § ash othe mor digs lect woul comicbooks.com