Life, 1927-03-31 · page 9 of 35
Life — March 31, 1927 — page 9: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This story satirizes gender stereotypes in medicine. A woman (Betty) performs an emergency surgical procedure on a man at a social gathering, shocking the assembled guests. Their gasped reactions—"I never was inside a medical school in my life!"—highlight the era's assumption that women couldn't be surgeons. The narrative's humor lies in subverting expectations: despite lacking formal training, she successfully completes the operation, proving competence transcends gender. The man's amazement that an unqualified woman succeeded where trained doctors might have failed becomes the ironic punchline. Published in 1928, this reflects early feminist commentary on professional barriers women faced, even when demonstrating clear ability. The satire critiques society's prejudices rather than the woman's capabilities.
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Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Wife of Gladiator (now in the arena): AND, MY DEAR, ONLY TWO-FIPTY A YARD, “They Never Dreamed I Could Do It!” Betty hands T was at the Schlossers’. I Byllesby shivered; her fluttered to her throat. “I always get this way when I sit in the slightest draft. Such an aw- ful soreness in my throat.” My moment had come! Until now, Thad always sat in a corner suck- ing my thumb, envying the enjoy- ment of the others at these jolly parties. But now, calmly, coolly, I arose and crossed the room to where Betty Byllesby sat. “Open your mouth,” I commanded, Her mouth did open, in sheer amazement. Vider! I snapped, “Say ‘A-ah’!” Under the spell of my perfect assurance, she obeyed. ur tonsils are not only enlarged, but badly diseased,” 1 declared. “They should be removed at once. Just lean back in your chair and I'll at- tend to it. Never will I forget the grins and snorts of incre- dulity, which changed to blank stares of amaze- ment as I quickly drew a bottle of ether from one instruments It was the work of a moment to anesthetize her with a handkerchief laid over her nostrils. In five minutes the operation was comple! and the patient regaining consciousness. Not till then did the spell that had hound them break. “Why, Edgar, I never dreamed you were a surgeon!” “Where did you study medicine— in Heidelberg?” So went the chorus. I silenced them. With a smile He: THE MAN WHO MARRIED ETHEL GOT A PRIZE, She: wuat was 11? “I'm not a surgeon at all,” T laughed into their astonished faces. “T never was inside a medical school in my life.” “But how—what—where—which ~—why—" they all gasped. r fifteen minutes an evening, three evenings a week, I have bee reading, simply reading, the Sledge Course in Home Medicine and Sur- gery. The lessons are more inter- esting than summer fiction or pro- motion literature. This neat little kit of surgical instru- ments is included in the price of the course.” (What this man done, you can do!) Wayne Kilbourne. The Business Men’s Slate for 1928 OR President: Fall. For Vice - President: Harry Daugherty. For White House Spokesman: Thomas W. Miller. Campaign Slogan: “Ten per cent. off for cash.” has Albert “ R242! NG secks its own level,” s Messrs. Funk and Wag- nalls. Probably this ex- plains why so many tab- loids are seen in the sub- way. comicbooks.com