Life, 1917-08-09 · page 37 of 42
Life — August 9, 1917 — page 37: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains multiple satirical elements from WWI-era America: **"Worse Than the Germans"** article criticizes medical protocols at Fort Slocum (a military induction center near New York). It details mandatory inoculations against typhus and vaccinations against smallpox given to recruits, documenting resulting illnesses—typhoid, pneumonia, measles, severe colds, and persistent coughing. The title's irony suggests these medical procedures are causing harm comparable to enemy warfare. The piece, sourced from "The Open Door," appears to be anti-militarization commentary questioning whether mandatory military medical procedures actually protect soldiers or endanger them. **Top left:** A cartoon with barnyard fowl making a marriage proposal—light domestic humor unrelated to the heavier content. **Right side:** Advertisement circles for Lucky Strike cigarettes ("It's toasted") and coffee, emphasizing "toasting" as a desirable process—ironic juxtaposition with the article's account of soldiers suffering after medical injections. **Bottom cartoon:** A stammering character, comedic filler content. The page juxtaposes serious wartime health critiques against frivolous advertising and humor.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
tte AND RAK LIFE 237 “* Are you fond of rice, Miss Hen?" “Oh, Mr. Leghorn! this is so sudd We Give It Away The Miniature Edition of VC Number Four Now Ready Long experience has demonstrated to us that this little Lire is great, not only to little men, but to big men, medium men and all women and children. It is of course beau- tifully printed in colors, and in all respects is an exact reproduction in miniature of the larger Lire. It contains the best things that ave appeared in Lire for a number of ant a copy? Send us your address and name and a per- fectly good, uncancelled U. $. two-cent stamp, and you will receive it by return mail. Lire, 17 West 31st Street, New York Worse Than the Germans Fort Slocum near New Rochelle is the receiving point for recruits for all branches of the re army service. Many thousands of recruits are here xiven their final physical ex and passed as physically, me morally fit to serve our cou xreat war of vital significance What happens to the recruits after they have passed the physical examina- tion? Each and every one is inoculated against typhus and “for general im- munity.” This inoculation involves. in- jection under the right arm three tin ten days elapsing between the first and second and second and third injections. About nine days after the first injection, a blood test 1s ta At the time of the first injection of typhus serum, the recruit is also vac- ated against smallpox. The vaccina tion is on the left arm. If it has not taken when seven days have elapsed, there is re-vaccination. en. Touching the recent experiences at Fort Slocum, there broke out amongst these formerly healthy men several cases of typhoid, many cases of pneumonia and measles. There were many severe colds. One recruit relates that imme- diately on receiving the third inocula- tion against typhus and “for immunity,” his throat became sore. A great many of the recruits suffered from severe and almost constant coughing and could not sleep. What is here related of the happen- ings at Fort Slocum is fully supported by affidavit. It actually applies to the entire army in all its branches, and it will apply to the million or more men who will soon be conscripted. No won- der the volunteer system didn’t work, —From The Open Door. Hollow Hopes “Never despait. Somewhere beyond the clouds the sun is shini Yes, and somewhere below the sea there's solid bottom. But that doesn’t help a man when he falls overboard —London Opinion Stammerer. W-MEL-WEL S°SMYTHE? 1 B-BUR-BET Y-YO-YOU DO-D- “Tr KNOW WH-WHO THUT-THIS 18! Raw coffee _ Never! Toasted" coffee / Toasting \ makes things \" delcionsy, / smoked the famous toasted; cigarette? / —_ comicbooks.com