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Presumably an episode in the Napoleonic Wars, of which Lecomte made many depictions. In the background is a large city

Wounded foreigners outside the city walls being picked up by French soldiers and taken to a guarded fortress. Coloured lithograph by G. Engelmann after H. Lecomte, 1820.

Boer War: first aid to the wounded on the battlefield at Colenso. Process print after J.J. Waugh.

In the early nineteenth century there were several rival medical systems, including Brunonianism, the system of Broussais, phrenology and homoeopathy, in addition to variations on traditional western medicine. Brunonianism, the theory of John Brown (1735-1788), regarded most illnesses as due to a deficit of stimulation, requiring treatment with medicines based on opium or alcohol. In France, François Joseph Victor Broussais (1772-1838) proposed a theory of irritability which was to be controlled by purging and especially bloodletting. Brown acquired a European reputation, especially after his death. Broussais tried to ridicule Brown and his followers in many of his verbose writings. The short-lived success of their competing systems illustrates the fatal attractiveness of over-simple theories. This drawing, probably by a French or German hand, shows a battle between the rival partisans of Brown (on the left) and Broussais (on the right): they are identified by military standards (flags) inscribed "Brown" (left) and "Broussai<s>" (right)

1 drawing : pen and ink ; image 35.4 x 45.2 cm

A fierce battle between the supporters of John Brown (Bruno), in favour of treatment with stimulants, and those of F.J.V. Broussais, in favour of bloodletting. Pen drawing.

One in a series of lithographs by Jean-Henri Marlet that were published in Paris in 1817. They look back at the recently finished Napoleonic wars, representing stock incidents of war with spirit but with little affection. This one, perhaps set in Italy or Spain, features four episodes which together form a concise study of the ways in which the suffering of the wounded could be relieved, and by whom. The title "Les bons camarades" (good comrades) implies mutual self-help and improvisation among the soldiers of a defeated army, rather than confidence in aid from a professional team of stretcher-bearers

1 print : lithograph, with watercolour ; image 25.9 x 20.8 cm

Two soldiers carrying a wounded comrade off the battlefield. Coloured lithograph by C. de Lasteyrie after J.H. Marlet, 1817.

Schleswig-Holstein War: an ambulance arriving at a battlefield in Düppel 18 April 1864. Lithograph by W. Funke, 1864.

1 drawing : pen and ink ; border 35.2 x 24.7 cm

A dentist (Uncle Sam) about to extract a tooth from a patient (Kaiser Wilhem II); representing America's successful involvement in the First world war. Pen drawing by P. Forbes-Robertson, 1918.

1 painting : watercolour, with pen and ink and gum arabic

A uniformed soldier from the army medical staff. Watercolour, 1886.

46 unnumbered leaves : color illustrations ; 37 cm

Souvenir : being a collection of sketches & drawings / by John Charlton ; with literary contributions by Harold Begbie [and others].

2 unnumbered leaves, 9 color plates frontispiece (including port.) ; (folio)

The costume of the Russian Army / from a collection of drawings made on the spot, and now in possession of the Right Honourable the Earl [sic] of Kinnaird. Containing a portrait of His Majesty the emperor of all the Russias.

1 print : aquatint photogravure ; platemark 21.5 x 26.4 cm

Franco-Prussian War: after the battle of le Bourget with and the removal of wounded soldiers. Photo-aquatint by Goupil & Co., 1870, after A. de Neuville.

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Wounded foreigners outside the city walls being picked up by French soldiers and taken to a guarded fortress. Coloured lithograph by G. Engelmann after H. Lecomte, 1820.

Boer War: first aid to the wounded on the battlefield at Colenso. Process print after J.J. Waugh.

A fierce battle between the supporters of John Brown (Bruno), in favour of treatment with stimulants, and those of F.J.V. Broussais, in favour of bloodletting. Pen drawing.

Two soldiers carrying a wounded comrade off the battlefield. Coloured lithograph by C. de Lasteyrie after J.H. Marlet, 1817.

Schleswig-Holstein War: an ambulance arriving at a battlefield in Düppel 18 April 1864. Lithograph by W. Funke, 1864.

A dentist (Uncle Sam) about to extract a tooth from a patient (Kaiser Wilhem II); representing America's successful involvement in the First world war. Pen drawing by P. Forbes-Robertson, 1918.

A uniformed soldier from the army medical staff. Watercolour, 1886.

Souvenir : being a collection of sketches & drawings / by John Charlton ; with literary contributions by Harold Begbie [and others].

The costume of the Russian Army / from a collection of drawings made on the spot, and now in possession of the Right Honourable the Earl [sic] of Kinnaird. Containing a portrait of His Majesty the emperor of all the Russias.

Franco-Prussian War: after the battle of le Bourget with and the removal of wounded soldiers. Photo-aquatint by Goupil & Co., 1870, after A. de Neuville.

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Wounded foreigners outside the city walls being picked up by French soldiers and taken to a guarded fortress. Coloured lithograph by G. Engelmann after H. Lecomte, 1820.

Boer War: first aid to the wounded on the battlefield at Colenso. Process print after J.J. Waugh.

A fierce battle between the supporters of John Brown (Bruno), in favour of treatment with stimulants, and those of F.J.V. Broussais, in favour of bloodletting. Pen drawing.

Two soldiers carrying a wounded comrade off the battlefield. Coloured lithograph by C. de Lasteyrie after J.H. Marlet, 1817.

Schleswig-Holstein War: an ambulance arriving at a battlefield in Düppel 18 April 1864. Lithograph by W. Funke, 1864.

A dentist (Uncle Sam) about to extract a tooth from a patient (Kaiser Wilhem II); representing America's successful involvement in the First world war. Pen drawing by P. Forbes-Robertson, 1918.

A uniformed soldier from the army medical staff. Watercolour, 1886.

Souvenir : being a collection of sketches & drawings / by John Charlton ; with literary contributions by Harold Begbie [and others].

The costume of the Russian Army / from a collection of drawings made on the spot, and now in possession of the Right Honourable the Earl [sic] of Kinnaird. Containing a portrait of His Majesty the emperor of all the Russias.

Franco-Prussian War: after the battle of le Bourget with and the removal of wounded soldiers. Photo-aquatint by Goupil & Co., 1870, after A. de Neuville.

Stay in the know

Wellcome collectionWellcome Collection

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