The Wasp — 1878 — page 128: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts several serpents or eels with skull-and-crossbones markings and warning labels (appearing to read "PERIL," "DANGER," "POISON") emerging from or coiled near what seems to be a water source or pipe system. The imagery suggests threats to San Francisco's water supply or public health infrastructure. The skull symbols and poison warnings indicate these represent disease vectors or health hazards—likely cholera, plague, or contamination issues that threatened San Francisco during the late 19th/early 20th century. The cartoon criticizes inadequate water safety measures, suggesting dangerous parasites or pathogens could infiltrate the city's water system. This reflects *The Wasp*'s typical role satirizing public health failures and municipal negligence.