A German quack doctor asks a British nurse about a man with a bowel complaint: misunderstanding the doctor, she has served the patient puppies instead of poppies, and an almanac instead of bole ammoniac. Coloured etching, 1803.

Date:
1 January 1803
Reference:
10980i
  • Pictures

Selected images from this work

View 1 image

About this work

Description

The doctor is accompanied by a black assistant who wears a crown and carries a basket of medicines, with a handbill saying "All sorts of incurable disorder cured"

Publication/Creation

London (53 Fleet Street) : Laurie & Whittle, 1 January 1803.

Physical description

1 print : etching, with watercolour ; platemark 19.6 x 24.9 cm

Lettering

A high German doctor, or, a cure for a complaint in the bowels. ... Lettering continues: "Well norse how was mine patient by dish time?" "Much better sir, the medicines had great effect." "Ah! dat is goot and dit you gif de poppies- and de bol ammoniac as I told you?" "Oh! yes sir the puppies he has eat six this morning- and I have boil'd four more he is taking now- as for the old almanack I could not get one in all the parish; but I procured a very old copy of Robin Hood, & boil'd that down in milk which has answer'd the purpose very well." Bears numbers : "33" top right, "285" bottom left

References note

Not found in: British Museum Catalogue of political and personal satires, London 1870-1954

Reference

Wellcome Collection 10980i

Type/Technique

Languages

Where to find it

  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    10980i.1
  • LocationStatusAccess
    Closed stores
    10980i.2

Permanent link