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A woman withdrawing her foot in outrage from the care of a corn-cutter who has pretensions to be called a chiropodist. Coloured engraving, 1793.

Date
20 November 1793
Reference
10973i
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Description

The operator performs the operation that was previously the remit of the corn cutter, but he claims higher professional status for his role and designates himself a "chiropodist". His customer disputes his claim and mocks his pretensions, claiming that a skilled non-professional such as her maid could do the job better. The Oxford English Dictionary has three quotations fropm the 1780s on the renaming of corn-cutters as chiropodists, including "Chiropodist (anglicè corn-cutter)... the absurdity and needless affectation of learning, the coining of new-fangled derivatives on every occasion" (European Magazine VII. 429)

Publication/Creation

London (Fleet Street) : Robt. Sayer & Co., 20 November 1793.

Physical description

1 print : line engraving and etching, with watercolour ; image 16.5 x 22.9 cm

Lettering

The corn doctor. ...

References note

British Museum, Catalogue of political and personal satires, vol. VII, London 1942, no. 8409

Lettering note

Lettering continues: "Madam, ther's not a man of the profession in Europe, that can cut a corn with that ease, delicacy, & safety as myself" "Oh! curse your delicacy- you've touched me to the quick- you have ruined me you fumbling dog- you a chiropedist, old Susan here would have done me better- if you don't immediately decamp, I'll tear all the hair off your shallow pate."

Reference

Wellcome Library no. 10973i

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Languages

  • English

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