The Wasp — 1890 — page 168: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page is predominantly **advertising and social commentary** rather than traditional political cartoons. The main content includes: **"That's So!"** - An editorial defending the "Microbe Killer," a patent medicine marketed by Radam's Microbe Killer Company in San Francisco. The piece sarcastically praises the product while appearing to mock dubious medical claims about killing microbes to cure diseases. This reflects the era's rampant **snake oil medicine trade** and public skepticism toward unproven remedies. The remainder consists of **real estate advertisements** (Golden Gate Park lots, auction notices) and miscellaneous classified ads typical of 1890s San Francisco journalism. The page reveals how satirical magazines mixed editorial commentary with commercial content to fund operations.