Genre:

Notes

Subjects:

Scientific Practitioners, Natural History, Electricity, Natural Philosophy, Engineers, Engineering, Steam-power, Architecture, Mathematics, Chemistry, Politics, Statistics, Astronomy, Physiology, Medical Practitioners, Industry, Manufactures, Philosophy, Sociology, Mechanics, Dynamics

People mentioned:

Carl Linnaeus, Linnaeus (or von Linné), Carl (1707–78) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Benjamin Franklin, Franklin, Benjamin (1706–90) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> James Watt, Watt, James (1736–1819) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>Christopher Wren, Wren, Sir Christopher (1632–1723) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Joseph Priestley, Priestley, Joseph (1733–1804) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> John Graunt, Graunt, John (1620–74) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Nicholas Copernicus, Copernicus, Nicholas (1473–1543) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> William Harvey, Harvey, William (1578–1657) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Matthew Boulton, Boulton, Matthew (1728–1809) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Auguste Comte, Comte, Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier (Auguste) (1798–1857) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Dominique F J Arago, Arago, Dominique François Jean (1786–1853) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Gottfried W Leibniz, Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm (1646–1716) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Izaak Walton Walton, Izaak (1593–1683) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Gender

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Photography, Societies

    'The Photographic Photographic Society of London
Close   View the register entry >>'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astrology, Scientific Practitioners, Chemistry

People mentioned:

Joseph L Gay-Lussac Gay-Lussac, Joseph Louis (1778–1850) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural Philosophy, Astronomy, Cosmology

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Disease, Medical Treatment, Homeopathy

    'Take a Vapour Bath'.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

C K Keene, Charles Samuel (1823–91) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Disease, Human Development

    Shows an equestrian 'Parish Doctor' who is late for a fox-hunting party. He passes a house in a country lane and sees a woman at an upstairs window. He asks about her daughter and her daughter's baby, who appear to be poorly. Clearly more interested in the hunt than his patients, he simply tells the women to give the baby 'a pinch o' brimstone in his pap'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Zoological Gardens, Animal Behaviour

Genre:

Illustration, Satire

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

D M Du Maurier, George Louis Palmella Busson (1834–96) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Monstrosities, Animal Development, Evolution, Darwinism, Zoological Gardens

    Depicts a nightmare experienced by a keeper at the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >>, who imagines that several animals having 'broken loose' and 'swapped heads'. The keeper is surrounded by several monstrous-looking animals, including a lion with an owl's head and a hippopotamus with a giraffe's head. The caption adds that the keeper cannot decide 'which to feed first'.

Genre:

Illustration, Satire

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

D M Du Maurier, George Louis Palmella Busson (1834–96) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Aeronautics, Breeding, Human Development, Evolution, Darwinism, Invention

    The upper half of the illustration depicts a fashionable man and woman riding giant birds of prey. The caption suggests that, like horses, birds could be made useful to man by 'selection, climate, training'. The lower part of the illustration depicts three ways of achieving human flight. The first involves wearing an india-rubber coat which, when inflated with gas, enables the subject to levitate. The second involves flying on a cape towed by pigeons and a hawk. The third suggestion is to wear a tail coat then stand on a roof while waving one's arms about for 'a few generations', and expect, 'by an extension of Charles Darwin's Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> theory', to develop wings, a beak, a tail, and clawed feet.

Genre:

Illustration

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

D M Du Maurier, George Louis Palmella Busson (1834–96) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Animal Behaviour, Zoological Gardens

    Shows a rat waving at a caged owl in the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >>. Around the corner of the cage, out of sight of the rat, creeps a cat.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Physiognomy

People mentioned:

Johann K Lavater Lavater, Johann Kaspar (1741–1801) CBD
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Zoology, Natural History, Animal Behaviour

    A list of natural historical observations containing descriptions of species' forms or habits that are related to their names. For example, the 'most remarkable instance of a hybrid animal is the cricket-bat', the 'best place in all London for rabbits is the Borough', and the 'bookworm has been known to live to a great age'.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Astronomy, Alchemy, Ancient Authorities, Extra-Terrestrial Life

    A series of speculations concerning the sun, moon and planets. Suggests that Mars, the god of war, might be a 'monster cannon-ball', and asks why the Romans called the earth both 'Tellus and Terra'. Noting that no atmosphere 'invests' the moon, observes that lunar inhabitants could not possess balloons. The size of Jupiter compared to other planets is likened to that of a 'turnip [...] to turnip radishes'. Observes that given Saturn's size and weight, its land must be 'as light as cork'. Uranus is described as 'out of sight' but 'not out of mind', and Neptune is asked to thank John C Adams Adams, John Couch (1819–92) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> and Urbain J J Leverrier Le Verrier, Urbain Jean Joseph (1811–77) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> for having an 'orb' named after him.

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Natural History, Animal Behaviour, Zoology, Zoological Gardens

    Argues that 'Naughtylus' is not a justifiable name for such a 'harmless little creature'. Reports that the secretary bird in the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >> is taking shorthand lessons and denies that a mudlark is a kind of singing bird.

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Zoological Gardens

Institutions mentioned:

Zoological Society—Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Surgery

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Electricity, Military Technology, Nationalism, Cultural Geography

    Introduces the concept of electrical insulation and gives examples of insulators. Likens insulation to an island surrounded by water and relishes the fact that Great Britain is so well insulated from the rest of the world. Observes that Britain's insulation from invaders is ensured by a fleet of ships. Compares the repulsive power of an electrified maiden to the power of Britain to repel 'foolish foreign ones'. Celebrates Britain's insularity of 'thought and notion', but hopes the country will never lose its insularity, even if it loses its insulation.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Gender

    Responds to news that the Royal College of Surgeons Royal College of Surgeons
Close   View the register entry >> intends to 'Discontinue mixed classes for the study of medicine' by suggesting that it is unusual 'for Doctors to disapprove of Mixtures'.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Internationalism, Military Technology, Steam-power

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Aeronautics, War

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Education, Gender, Universities, Mathematics

    Reports that several students at the 'Ladies' College at Hitchin' (renamed Girton College, Cambridge Girton College, Cambridge
Close   View the register entry >> on its move there in 1872) have passed their 'Little-go' examination. Thinks that 'these Spinsters' will eclipse their male colleagues 'more completely than the Sun was the other day by the Moon', and that a young lady may well become Senior Wrangler in the Mathematics Tripos.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Gender, Education, Medical Practitioners, Universities, Representation

    Claims that the 'resolute ladies' who want to study surgery, anatomy, and other medical topics in 'public hospitals' are 'talking with triumph' of Giorgione's Giorgione (Giorgio Barbarelli) (ca. 1478–1511) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> painting in the Royal Academy of Arts Royal Academy of Arts
Close   View the register entry >> entitled 'A Lady Professor of Bologna'—a reference to the portrait of Maria G Agnesi Agnesi, Maria Gaetana (1718–99) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>. Insists that the ladies are also anticipating a painting of 'A Lady Professor of Edinburgh'.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Education, Mathematics

People mentioned:

Euclid Euclid (fl. 295 BC) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

    Shows an elderly master of arts sitting before a blackboard on which a triangle has been drawn. He asks his pupil, who stares at the geometrical figure, what will happen if all the sides of the triangle are equal. His pupil replies confidently: 'I should say the fourth would be equal too'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Amusement, Accidents

Genre:

Biography, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Class, Amateurism, Natural History, Animal Behaviour, Societies

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Aeronautics, Invention, Military Technology, War

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Invention

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Human Development

    Shows a nurse, a mother, and her children in a parlour. The mother's young son sits on the nurse's lap. The mother tries to give the boy a spoonful of castor oil which the boy blows into his mother's face. The boy replies 'Tink 'oo got worst of it dis time!!!'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History, Zoology, Animal Behaviour

    Observations on several species and their characteristics derived from their names. For example, the gadfly 'is a rover, never staying long in one place', arctic bears enjoy 'swarming up the North Pole', and the ounce (a snow leopard) is the lightest of all mammals.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Animal Development, Zoological Gardens

People mentioned:

Georges L Leclerc, comte de Buffon Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de (1707–88) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Institutions mentioned:

Rosherville Gardens, Northfleet Rosherville Gardens, Northfleet
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

News-Commentary, Satire

Subjects:

Adulteration, Disease, Health

    Comments on a recent report in the British Medical Journal British Medical Journal (1857–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> concerning adulterated foods in America and their alarming effects on the human body. Lists adulterated 'delicacies' imported from America, including 'treacle from coal tar', 'cayenne from rusty tenpenny nails', and 'ketchup from old hats'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Meteorology, Measurement, Political Economy, Engineering, Aesthetics

    Begins by telling Ruskin that he may be right in matters of art and aesthetics, but that his views on political economy are untenable. Argues that political economy 'sums' are so difficult because 'they have to be worked with men's interests, principles, passions, and pockets for factors' and are therefore very different from engineering calculations, which involve the more reliable 'figures and quantities, measures of length, liquid measures, and measures of capacity'. Proceeds to attack Ruskin's recent proposal to prevent the Tiber from flooding—which Ruskin delivered at the Royal Institution Royal Institution of Great Britain
Close   View the register entry >>. Believes Ruskin's plan for protecting farms from flooding could not control the vast quantities of rain in northern Italy and that Ruskin has vastly underestimated the quantities of water involved.

Genre:

Illustration

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

D M Du Maurier, George Louis Palmella Busson (1834–96) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Disease, Medical Treatment, Class

    Shows a conservatory where a man and two women talk to their inarticulate servant. He explains that his absence has been due to being in hospital. He confesses that he does not know how the doctors described his symptoms but recalls that one 'young medical gentleman' told him, 'What you've got in your 'ed [...] 'im as lies in the next bed to you, he've got in 'is hinside'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Commerce

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History, Botany, Politics

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Education, Mathematics, Anatomy

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Astronomy, Astrology, Cultural Geography, Charlatanry

    Notes the superior education of the Scottish people and is accordingly surprised by a report in the Civilian Civilian (1869–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> of the appointment of a 'Second Assistant Astrologer' at the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh Royal Observatory, Edinburgh
Close   View the register entry >>. Thinks that the appointment, if true, would threaten Scotland's status as a nation of superior intellects.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Education, Gender

    Praises Lyon Playfair's Playfair, Sir Lyon, 1st Baron Playfair of St Andrews (1818–98) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> recent address to the Birmingham and Midland Institute Birmingham and Midland Institute
Close   View the register entry >> but points out that a 'highly respectable maiden lady' has taken offence at the title of the address—'The Inosculation of the Arts and Sciences'—on the grounds that this is something 'she has done her best to discountenance all her long life'.

Genre:

Diary, Drollery, Spoof

Subjects:

Meteorology, Extra-Terrestrial Life, Cultural Geography

    Details the effects of excessively cold and hot weather on people's physical and mental states. Notes that the weather dominates English conversation and claims that on the Moon there is no weather and consequently no conversation. Regards meteorology as a 'most useful science' but wishes it could be relied upon always to determine the weather. Observes, however, that the consequence of reliable weather forecasting will be the end of 'small talk'.

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Animal Magnetism, Animal Behaviour, Mesmerism

Genre:

Regular Feature, Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Vaccination, Public Health

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Vaccination, Crime

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Universities, Religion, Education, Analytical Chemistry, Government, Politics

    Contrasts attempts to abolish religious tests for university degrees and fellowships to attempts to annul chemical tests. Notes that mere commands and parliamentary bills will not stop chemical substances from reacting in certain ways. For example, urges that while it is easy to pass a bill for stopping 'hydrogen sulphuret' from blackening lead, it remains to be seen whether it will be effective. Celebrates those tests provided by science and those which the author's 'Masters' do not have the power to repeal.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Song, Drollery

Subjects:

Zoology, Race, Animal Behaviour, Zoological Gardens

    Song of 'La Mere Hippopotamus' in the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >> which celebrates the birth of her child. The poem is written in patois by a 'nigger'. The hippopotamus requests comfortable conditions in the gardens and wishes Queen Victoria Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Empress of India (1819–1901) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> to be informed of the birth of her child. She is annoyed that 'Massa Buckland Buckland, Francis Trevelyan (1826–80) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>' has not inspected her child and thinks the reason is because it is not 'fishy-tailed and finny'. Rejects the claim made by The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> that she might bite her child and insists that she will be kissing it and devouring 'any nigger' that tries to enter her cage. She thanks people for their 'inquiries' and informs everybody of her own and her child's good health.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Scientific Naturalism, Evolution, Materialism

    Mr Punch's response to John Tyndall's Tyndall, John (1820–93) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> claim (published in Tyndall 1871a Tyndall, John 1871a. Fragments of Science: A Series of Detached Essays, Lectures, and Reviews, 3rd edn, London: Longmans, Green, and Co.
Close   View the register entry >>) that all philosophy, poetry, and science are 'potential in the fires of the sun'. Punch offers a prize of one million pounds for the best essay on the question of whether new laid eggs contain 'any degree' of 'Consciousness or Volition'. However, warns that the best answer is not necessarily going to satisfy Mr Punch.

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Mathematics, Dynamics, Publishing

Reprinted:

Burnand 1872 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1872. My Health, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Politics, Homeopathy

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Disease, Instruments

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Darwinism, Evolution, Descent, Animal Behaviour

    Responds to news that the Charity Organization Society Charity Organization Society
Close   View the register entry >> has received a donation of £100 from 'two dormice'. Remarks that if the report is true then Charles R Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, 'who knows so much of the manners and customs' of the 'inferior creatures', can learn something new. Adds that Darwin could have used this report to show that man developed from 'liberal, generous-hearted' dormouse protoplasm. The author prefers the notion of being descended from a dormouse than from a zoophyte.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery; Drama, Drollery

Subjects:

Universities, Education, Gender, Geology

Institutions mentioned:

University of Cambridge University of Cambridge
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

C K Keene, Charles Samuel (1823–91) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Astronomy, Instruments, Education

    Depicts an uncle asking his young nephew whether he would prefer to join him for a drink of claret or to accompany his cousins to a lecture on astronomy. The young man replies that he prefers 'Cork to Orrery'. Punch adds that this response proves that the young man was an Epicurean, but had read his 'Debrett' (e.g. Debrett 1803, Debrett, John 1803. Debrett's Peerages of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Containing an Account of all Peers, 2 vols, London: John Debrett
Close   View the register entry >> which lists peerages, including the Earldom of Cork and Orrery).

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Descent, Human Species, Evolution, Darwinism, Faith, Gender

    Urges on the poet Aubrey T De Vere De Vere, Aubrey Thomas (1814–1902) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> the pettiness of tracing his noble ancestry to the time of King William I William I [known as William the Conqueror], King of England and Duke of Normandy (1027/8–87) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> 'at most'. Thinks 'simple folk' may remain content with 'Adam's origin', but exhorts De Vere to learn from Charles R Darwin's Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Descent of Man Darwin, Charles Robert 1871a. The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, London: John Murray
Close   View the register entry >> to prize his 'high descent'. Ponders the status of the 'Crusader', now buried in rock containing the 'relics of a Lemur', and observes that the 'De Veres and all' derive from 'Sir Anthropoid Ape'. Notes that both Christians and Jews are descended, via marsupials, reptiles, and fishes, from ascidian larvae. Points out that 'no eye has ever seen' the birth or the transmutation of species and that men who are not 'fools' are puzzled by the argument that one species developed from another. Insists that faith helps to 'knit the break' in the reasoning behind the theory of the descent of man. Notes that 'Science tells no old woman's tale' and that man's descent from a female larva 'is not a fall'. Ponders the allegedly vast leap between 'Jackanapes' and 'man' and thinks De Vere's 'doubt' might stop the 'common British Rough to scan'. Considers that 'British Roughs' are much more closely related to the baboon than to De Vere.

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Nutrition

Reprinted:

Burnand 1872 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1872. My Health, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Vaccination, Government, Politics, Political Economy

Genre:

Regular Feature, Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Zoology, Museums, Politics, Societies

    Notes the difficulty of accessing the zoological collection at the India Office India Office
Close   View the register entry >>, a difficulty encountered by Philip L Sclater Sclater, Philip Lutley (1829–1913) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> who wanted to work on the collection. Suggests that the collection be given to Sclater and transferred to the Zoological Society Zoological Society of London
Close   View the register entry >> (115).

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Darwinism, Development, Evolution

    Pleased that the 'law of Natural Selection' has governed the marriage of Princess Louise Louise, Princess, Duchess of Argyll (1848–1939) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> to a 'British Peer', a 'great improvement on the rile of non-natural selection by which German husbands have hitherto been wont to be chosen for our Royal spinsters'. Also believes that the present marriage 'will not be accompanied by Struggle for Existence'.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Vaccination, Disease

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

D M Du Maurier, George Louis Palmella Busson (1834–96) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Vaccination, Human Species, Class

    Depicts a girl urging her mother to vaccinate the family dog. The mother points out that only human beings are vaccinated, but her daughter protests that the servants of an aristocrat have been vaccinated.

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Transport, Human Development

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery