The Wasp — 1893 — page 311: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This *Wasp* cartoon satirizes prominent medical figures of the era, apparently critiquing what the publication views as hypocrisy among "respectable Medical Men." The imagery references Robert Louis Stevenson's *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* (published 1886), where a respectable doctor has a hidden, monstrous alter ego. The skeleton-headed figure represents the dark side these physicians allegedly conceal. A dead body lies at their feet, and a scandal newspaper is visible, suggesting accusations of misconduct or unethical practices. The caption's phrase "The Part Played by so Many of Our Alleged Respectable Medical Men" indicates *Wasp* editors believed certain doctors engaged in dubious or harmful activities while maintaining public respectability. The specific scandal referenced remains unclear without additional context.