The Wasp — 1881 — page 99: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page features a satirical column criticizing the medical profession's self-regulation and profit motives. The article attacks physicians for: 1. **Monopolistic practices**: Doctors collude to maintain high fees and restrict competition 2. **Profiteering from illness**: Physicians exploit patients' desperation for financial gain 3. **Resisting oversight**: The medical establishment opposes regulation that might benefit the public The skull illustration at top-left emphasizes the potential danger of unregulated medical practice. The piece argues that physicians use professional credentials as a barrier to protect their financial interests rather than ensuring public safety. This reflects late 19th-century Progressive Era skepticism toward professional monopolies and calls for transparency and consumer protection—themes central to *The Wasp's* satirical mission.