Read the excerpt from "Aunt Misery" The doctors claimed no one bothered to come in for examinations or treatments anymore, because they did not fear dying; the pharmacist’ business suffered too because medications are, like magic potions, bought to prevent or postpone the inevitable; priest and undertakers were unhappy with the situation also, for obvious reasons.

What is the best explanation of figurative language used in the underlined phrase?

(25 points)