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A hybrid of a cannon and a clyster is attended by General Georges Mouton and Gabriel Delessert, the chief of police; representing their use of the water-cannon to dispel an uprising. Coloured lithograph. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.
'Le juste milieu' refers to the political system proposed by the insurgents of the July Revolution of 1830. However, the actuality of government under Louis-Philippe and other self-serving politicians caused the term to acquire a disappointed, ironic hue. The print refers to events occurring between the 5th and 10th of May 1831, when continued rioting in the Place Vendôme was quelled by spraying the crowds with water. This hitherto unused method of riot control was devised by George Mouton, comte de Lobau, the état-major général at the time, assisted by the préfet of police, Gabriel Delessert. Both can be seen here at the cannon. On witnessing this event, an equivalent riot of sorts broke out among the clyster-obsessed caricaturists of the time, who had a field day
'Pompe' can mean both 'pomp' and 'pump' or 'syringe'
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