The prewar 'Magnet' artist has captured well the terrors of a 'hand-swishing', evoking both the fear of the boys in the queue awaiting their turn and the distress of those who have received their dose. One boy has thrust his burning palms into his armpits, another is blowing on his hands whilst a third is rubbing them together - all in an attempt to alleviate the stinging pain produced by the thin whippy cane.