"A fat citizen (three-quarter length), seated in an armchair, endures an operation upon the carbuncles of his bloated nose. The operator (left), thin and high-shouldered, holds the patient's forehead and applies a small pointed instrument (a metallic tractor) causing flames to gush from nose and nostrils. On a small table (left) are a decanter of 'Brandy' with a jug and steaming glass, lemon, and sugar, the patient's pipe lying across a newspaper: 'The True Briton. Theatre Dead Alive. Grand Exhibition in Leicester Square, just arrived from America the Rod of Æsculapius. Perkinism in all its Glory - being a certain Cure for all Disorders, Red Noses, Gouty Toes, Windy Bowels, Broken Legs, Hump Backs. Just discover'd, the Grand Secret of the Philosopher's Stone with the True way of turning all Metals into Gold, pro bono publico.' On the wall (right) is a picture of an infant Bacchus, astride a cask, holding out a decanter and a glass."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title etched below image., Temporary local Medical Library subject terms: Metallic tractors -- Perkins, Elisha., 1 print : etching and aquatint with engraving, hand-colored ; sheet 24.4 x 31.5 cm., and Sheet trimmed within plate mark.
Publisher:
Publish'd Novr. 11, 1801, by H. Humphrey, 27 St. James's Street
Subject (Name):
Perkins, Benjamin Douglas, 1774-1810
Subject (Topic):
Pain, Quacks and quackery, Quacks, Medical procedures & techniques, Medical equipment & supplies, Pipes (Smoking), Newspapers, and Dogs
A medicine vendor kneeling and praying. Doctor Rock (Richard Rock 1690-1777) was an itinerant medicine vendor who frequented the London areas of St. Pauls and Covent Garden. He was famous for his "anti-venereal, grand, specifick pill". He was satirised in several caricatures: W. Hogarth represented him in A harlot's progress pl. V; The march to Finchley; and The four times of the day, morning and "A fashionably-dressed man kneels in profile to the left at a large chest of 'Patent Medecines', on which is a duck with the inscription 'Quack. Quack. Quack' [cf. British Museum Satires No. 5766]. A hanging candelabra and a festooned curtain indicate wealth. He prays to the shade of Dr. Rock, describes the composition of his famous Vegetable Drops, and asks for the continuance of 'my Carriages and Equipage, my Town and Country Residence, and all other good things of this life ...'."--British Museum online catalogue
Description:
Title printed in letterpress below image., Publisher from imprints present on other plates in the series. For information on the series, see page 51 in v. 8. of the the Catalogue of prints and drawings in the British Museum. Division I, political and personal satires., Date of publication from Grego., and Twenty-one lines of letterpress text below title: Illustrious shade of the renowned Dr. Rock, still continue, I beseech thee ...
Publisher:
R. Ackermann and Printed by E. Spragg, No. 27, Bow-Street, Covent-Garden
Subject (Geographic):
Great Britain and Great Britain.
Subject (Name):
Rock, Richard, 1690-1777 and Doctor Botherum.
Subject (Topic):
Quacks and quackery, Selling, Drugs, Medicine, Chests, Ducks, Costume, Candelabra, Draperies, Prayer, Quacks, and Patent medicines
