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

Subjects:

Mathematics, Lecturing

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Evolution, Descent, Animal Development, Darwinism

Publications cited:

Darwin 1871a Darwin, Charles Robert 1871a. The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, London: John Murray
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Vaccination

Genre:

Letter

Subjects:

Adulteration, Medical Treatment, Pharmaceuticals, Crime

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Botany, Entomology, Expertise

    Regards a Morning Post Morning Post and Daily Advertising Pamphlet (1772–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> report of Princess Louise's Louise, Princess, Duchess of Argyll (1848–1939) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> wedding-dress as indicating that millinery is 'fast rising into the dignity of a science'. Expresses admiration of the 'scientific precision' and attention to botanical nomenclature in the reporter's inventory of the flowers in the Princess's bridal veil. Questions why the reporter did not exhibit such exactness in describing the 'medallions' on the Princess's tunic. Praises the reporter's description of butterflies on the Princess's tunic and hopes he will furnish the proper entomological names of the ornamental insects on the garment.

Genre:

Limerick

Subjects:

Gravity, Mechanics, Evolution, Descent, Darwinism, Hypothesis

    Contrasts Isaac Newton's Newton, Sir Isaac (1642–1727) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> 'demonstrated' hypotheses to Charles R Darwin's Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> poorly supported 'speculation'. Thinks that time, 'theory's dispeller / Will out of mind remove' such speculation, and invokes Sam Weller's saying in Pickwick Papers Dickens, Charles John Huffam 1837. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, 2 vols, London: Chapman and Hall
Close   View the register entry >>, 'Prove it. And he can't prove it'.

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Railways, Invention, Travel, Health

Reprinted:

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

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Darwinism, Animal Development, Descent, Evolution

    Claims that an 'old bill-discounter' said 'Development of Species! [...] don't talk to me about development of species. The only thing worth studying is the development of specie!'.

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Vaccination, Human Development

People mentioned:

Charles R Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Invention, Machinery, Supernaturalism

People mentioned:

John H Pepper Pepper, John Henry (1821–1900) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Engineering, Pollution, Public Health, Politics

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Descent, Evolution, Darwinism, Human Species

    Asks Charles R Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> if man, a species which 'looks to the meridian', is descended from the larva of a marine ascidian. Considers it apt that man should be of marine descent and thinks this claim should be communicated to the marines.

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Psychology, Darwinism, Evolution, Development

    The hypochondriac writer proposes to write to Charles R Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> about why, when recently preoccupied with 'one line of thought', 'something' stopped him from walking over the edge of a cliff. Later proposes to write to Darwin with an 'argument' in support of his theory. (163)

Reprinted:

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

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Medical Treatment, Pharmaceuticals

Reprinted:

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

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Vaccination, Politics

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History, Ornithology, Zoology, Entomology, Animal Behaviour

    Notes the surprising variety of birds, fishes, and insects to be seen in London. Lists various species and their common locations, most of the latter being humorously linked to the species' names. For example, pigeons have been shot near Shepherd's Bush, pea-shooters abound in London's streets, bluebottles can be found in Whitechapel butchers' shops, thrushes have been observed 'among the sundry of the children, under medical inspection', ducks are 'plentiful in the salons of Tyburnia', and flocks of mudlarks can be seen near the River Thames at Wapping.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Astronomy, Prognostication, Religion, Controversy

    Responds to news of John R Hind's Hind, John Russell (1823–95) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> paper at the Royal Society Royal Society of London
Close   View the register entry >> (a version of which was published as Hind 1871 Hind, John Russell 1871. 'Note on the Circumstances of the Transits of Venus over the Sun's Disk in the Years 2004 and 2012', Proceedings of the Royal Society, 29, 423–25
Close   View the register entry >>) on the transits of Venus in 2004 and 2012. Notes that Punch has since been inquiring into the state of John Cumming's Cumming, John (1807–81) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> health and found that the divine has been 'totally prostrate' and unable to continue with his work owing to Hind's 'audacious anticipation of events'. Notes that the latest reports claim that Cumming's health is improving and that he is preparing to attack Hind and 'all other such wicked astronomers'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Transport, Aeronautics, Class

    Reports that the 'science of aerostation' is highly advanced but only available for royalty, a claim supported by news that Tommaso (2nd Duke of Genoa) Tommaso, 2nd Duke of Genoa (1854–1931) http://en.wikipedia.org
Close   View the register entry >> is paying 'flying visits' to English towns.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Transport, Engineering, Darwinism, Evolution, Descent

    Responds to the concern of a correspondent in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> that a road had been built from 'churchyard mould, bones and fragments of coffins' rather than from macadam. Notes that Charles R Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> might suggest that 'as far as the bones are concerned, that species of M'Adam McAdam, John Loudon (1756–1836) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> should be called M'Ape'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Unbelief, Education, Religious Authority, Darwinism, Evolution

    Noting that the Archbishop of York, William Thomson Thomson, William (1819–90) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, has begun a series of lectures 'designed to counteract the progress of unbelief among the educated classes of society', points out that the talk was 'specially directed against the theory of Development of Species'. The writer asserts that he can contribute to the 'desirable end' of the lectures with the lines 'Would you win Latitude? / Will you by Platitude?' and urges that 'your discourse should never be as long as it is usually wide'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Gender, Politics, Government

    In the parliamentary debate on the enfranchisement of women, notes Lyon Playfair's Playfair, Sir Lyon, 1st Baron Playfair of St Andrews (1818–98) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> claim that 'real "politics", separate from party, was the science of government, and we had no right to shut out from it half the population' (187).

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:

Medical Practitioners, Sound, Instruments

    Depicts a doctor's daughter using her father's stethoscope to listen to the tenor voice of a curate who lives next door.

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health

Reprinted:

Burnand 1872 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1872. My Health, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
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Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Darwinism, Descent, Evolution, Human Species, Gender

    The poet asks Charles R Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> to explain how the need for tailors arose and whether the laws of nature failed in not supplying humankind with clothes. Notes that giraffes acquired long necks 'through reaching up to long trees', and wonders whether 'climate's alteration' would result in humans being dressed in 'fur / Coats and aprons'. Insists that the tailor's business undermines Darwin's evolutionary 'plan' because it can 'evolve a Suit for Man'.

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Darwinism, Descent, Development, Evolution, Religious Authority, Religion

    'Development Theory—MR. DARWIN Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> and DR. NEWMAN Newman, John Henry (1801–90) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> on each other's books'.

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Crime, Descent, Development, Darwinism, Evolution

People mentioned:

Charles R Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Vitalism, Physiology, Immaterialism, Government, Politics

    Notes the lack of consensus among physiologists over the idea that an immaterial vital principle exists in organised bodies. Argues that the recent budget of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Robert Lowe Lowe, Robert, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke (1811–92) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, is an 'organized body incorporating a vital principle' and observes that, according to the Prime Minister William E Gladstone Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, the government maintained such a principle by imposing extra taxes on income-tax payers. Insists that the budget's 'Vital Principle' is not immaterial, but a hard and serious matter—confiscation.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Astronomy, Heroism, Metrology, Measurement, Railways

    Contends that George B Airy's Airy, Sir George Biddell (1801–92) DSB ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> knighthood (Companion of the Bath) is richly deserved. Notes Airy's northern English origins and hopes to live to see 'the sheen of his stars'. Although the 'Great Bear' would have been an appropriate constellation to be worn by an astronomer hailing from the north of England, his 'Southern Cross' is considered an emblem of equal value. Appreciates the Crown's recognition of this 'Hero of Science'. Imagines that Julius Caesar Caesar, Julius (Gaius Julius) (100–44 BC) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> would have praised Airy for writing about his 'landing in Kent' and for backing decimal coinage. Insists that Airy was 'wiser' than Isambard K Brunel Brunel, Isambard Kingdom (1806–59) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> in supporting narrow gauge railways. Concludes with the sun praising Airy for correcting tables for the sun, moon, and ancient eclipses.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History, Museums, Architecture, Politics, Government

    Notes the debate on the building to house the natural history collection in South Kensington—a reference to the proposed Natural History Museum British Museum (Natural History)
Close   View the register entry >>—and relishes the prospect of Alfred Waterhouse Waterhouse, Alfred (1830–1905) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> designing it (222).

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Physiology, Lecturing, Religion

People mentioned:

Thomas H Huxley Huxley, Thomas Henry (1825–95) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Medical Treatment

Reprinted:

Burnand 1872 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1872. My Health, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
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:

Education, Schools, Mathematics, Narcotics, Morality

    Shows a crowded classroom in one of the new board schools. A 'Temperate Parent' introduces his son to the 'District Schoolmaster' and urges the teacher to 'abstain from teaching my little Jonadab, here, to work sums in ale or beer or spirit measures, as he's been brought up a stric' teetotaller and jined the band of 'ope!!'.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Meteorology, Oceanography, Declinism, Religious Authority, Political Economy, Declinism, Exploration

    Responds to a report in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> concerning William B Carpenter's Carpenter, William Benjamin (1813–85) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> evidence challenging the claim that the gulf stream carries heat from tropical regions to north-west Europe. The writer hopes that this claim, which is a 'long standing' and 'notorious tyrant', will be refuted and that the gulf stream, an 'uncalled-for interference on the part of a friendly power', will be abolished from conversation. On this basis, anticipates the end of talk of 'Foreign Invasion, Exhaustion of Coal, Decline of England's Power and speedy re-establishment of Popery', and the explorer David Livingstone's Livingstone, David (1813–73) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> return.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Ballad, Drollery

Subjects:

Darwinism, Descent, Evolution, Animal Behaviour, Human Species, Hypothesis

    Ponders Charles R Darwin's Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> claim that humans are descended from 'an Apish pair'. Compares the habits of the 'pleasant race of monkeys' with those of humans. Claims that monkeys climbed trees, 'slept in a wood' and 'dined on nuts', and that they had no need for such human artefacts as combs, boots, and eating utensils. Points out that 'our manners' have been 'mended' since we were apes, although we still 'grin and back-bite', 'cut up each other', and wear 'tails' at night. Concludes by asserting that Darwin's theory of descent is 'all speculation'.

Genre:

Illustration, Dialogue, 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:

Zoology, Animal Behaviour, Animal Development, Evolution, Darwinism, Zoological Gardens

    Depicts two elephants, a bear, a giraffe, and an ostrich conversing in the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >>. The elephant tells the bear that he looks so pale that he thought he had 'changed heads with the polar bear'. The bear agrees, and confesses that he has eaten the 31,457 buns given to him by visitors, and comments on the elephant's bloatedness. The elephant admits to consuming buns and ginger beer, while the ostrich remarks that he can stomach the buns and ginger beer but not the beer bottles, paper, and rusty nails. The ostrich informs a sickly giraffe that he looks spottier than ever.

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Medical Treatment

Reprinted:

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

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Medical Treatment

Reprinted:

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

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Evolution, Descent, Darwinism

People mentioned:

Charles R Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Institutions mentioned:

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

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Exhibitions, Publishing, Machinery, Invention

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Photography, Instruments, Crime

    Responds to a report concerning the use of photographs by the French national guards to detect insurgents. Suggests a camera for detecting thieves, in which the thief's footsteps activate a mechanism which exposes the plates and strikes a magnesium light.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Time, Instruments, Light, Magnetism, Electricity

Publications cited:

The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >>