2014-08-23
Explanation
The Joke
A doctor with a mustache, holding a knife, tells his patient: "I'm gonna implant some monkey skin into your balls." The patient asks "Why?" The doctor responds: "I got a hunch." The patient shrugs and says: "Carry on then." The caption below reads: "Being a doctor used to be a lot more fun."
The Humor
This comic references the real historical practice of dubious medical procedures performed with little scientific basis. In the early 20th century, doctors could perform outlandish experimental procedures on patients based on little more than a hunch, and patients would often go along with it due to unquestioning trust in medical authority. The specific procedure mentioned -- implanting animal tissue into human testicles -- alludes to the real practices of doctors like Serge Voronoff, who in the 1920s grafted monkey testicle tissue onto human testicles, claiming it would rejuvenate aging men. The joke is that modern medicine's rigorous standards of evidence-based practice, ethics boards, and informed consent have made it less "fun" for doctors who can no longer just try whatever bizarre idea pops into their heads.
References
Serge Voronoff (1866-1951) was a French surgeon of Russian origin who became famous (and infamous) for his technique of grafting monkey testicular tissue onto human testicles during the 1920s and 1930s. He claimed the procedure could rejuvenate aging men, increase virility, and even extend lifespan. The practice was widely popular for a time before being discredited.