John Bull being examined by eight doctors representing politicians, who diagnose his illness as cholera. Lithograph, ca. 1832.

Date:
[1831/1832]
Reference:
563564i
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view John Bull being examined by eight doctors representing politicians, who diagnose his illness as cholera. Lithograph, ca. 1832.

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John Bull being examined by eight doctors representing politicians, who diagnose his illness as cholera. Lithograph, ca. 1832. Wellcome Collection. Public Domain Mark. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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About this work

Description

John Bull sits on a padded chair dressed in invalid's dress while eight doctors stand or sit to take his history. Six of them are named as politicians: Lord Grey (third from left, taking pulse); Lord Brougham ("Broom", seated second from left wearing lawyer's wig); Sir Robert Peel (standing first on left?); Henry ("Orator") Hunt (either fourth from left, standing, or third from right, seated?); the Duke of Cumberland, King of Hanover (fourth from right, standing); and Sir Charles Wetherell (an opponent of the Reform Bill whose visit to Bristol on 29 October 1831 had resulted in riots)

Publication/Creation

[London?] : [publisher not identified], [1831/1832]

Physical description

1 print : lithograph ; image and lettering 20.5 x 30.1 cm

Lettering

The cholera morbus!!! Lettering: "(Bull) Don't talk to me of Cholera Morbus, is'nt it my old complaint, a complication of disorders thro' a weak constitution--only you have given it a new name that's all--on purpose no doubt to draw off my attention from my Bill, which a set of rogues wants to dishonor, but it won't do-- (Dr Grey) Hark how wild he talks gentlemen, do you call that nothing, how goes yr pulse--Hem--God bless me! Do you feel a gnawing in your stomach-- (Bull) Yes for want of vituals-- (Dr Grey) You must double your quantity of Parish soup-- (Dr Broom) Does your bowels yearn-- (Bull) Yes for the miseries of my country-- (Dr Peel) Does your head ache-- (Bull) Like as if a spinning jenny was at work in it.-- Is your sight dim-- It always was-- (Dr Hunt) How's yr. blood?-- (Bull) Like blacking-- (Dr Weatherall) Do you feel a burning at your heart-- (Bull) Yes as hot as Bristol-- (Dr Cumberland) Is your throat sore-- (Bull) Yea as if it had been cut with a razor--" The man on the right sums up by saying "Gentlem[en] tis evident that these are symptoms of the existence of the true Indian cholera, the only course we have to pursue is to keep him upon very low diet-- & should he unhappily turn furious under the malady, why then a dose of steel lozenges & lead pills will be the only remedy"

References note

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

Reference

Wellcome Collection 563564i

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