Science in the 19th Century Periodical

Punch, Or the London Charivari [1st]

Introductory Essay
Volume 2  (January to June 1842)

Section: January

Punch,  2 (1842), [1].

[Calendar]

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Amusement


    Gives the 'Astronomical' information that the '"voice of the stars" may now be heard outside several of the Minor Metropolitan Theatres'.



Punch,  2 (1842), [1].

Medical Hints for the Winter Quarter, or the Brumal Ingress

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Domestic Economy, Schools


    Medical advice for parents regarding illnesses associated with Christmas and children. For example, warns that 'little boys cannot eat too much at the festive period', and that icing from cakes induces 'indigestion and sickness'. Parents are advised to 'bleed the governors on returning to school' and people with 'delicate lungs' are informed that exposure to cold winds will terminate their complaints.



Section: February

Punch,  2 (1842), [2].

[Calendar]

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Cosmology


    Notes the date when Nicholas Copernicus Copernicus, Nicholas (1473–1543) DSB
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was born, and claims that on the same day Ptolemy Ptolemy (Claudius Ptolomaeus) (c. 100–c.170) DSB
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'flummux'd'.



Punch,  2 (1842), [2].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education


    Seasonal 'Directions to Medical Students'. For example, it suggests that with the appearance of wintry weather they should 'find out where the new men hang their Macintoshes, and fill the pockets with snow, during the lectures on Materia Medica'.



Section: March

Punch,  2 (1842), [3].

[Calendar]

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Instruments, Societies, Astronomy, Scientific Practitioners, Meteorology


    Notes the rising of mercury, but 'this deponent' does not indicate whether 'in the heavens or the barometer'. Notes the date of the opening of the Royal Institution Royal Institution of Great Britain
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, which it claims was founded 'for the encouragement of science and the discovery of mares' nests', and the date on which William Herschel's Herschel, Sir William (1738–1822) DSB ODNB
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planet was discovered.



Section: April

Punch,  2 (1842), [4].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Commerce


    Seasonal 'Directions to Medical Students'. For example, they are urged to sign their own attendance schedules and to make money by selling 'bones and preparations' at a Bloomsbury location.



Punch,  2 (1842), [4].

Medical Hints for the Vernal or Spring Quarter

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment


    Advice includes wearing respirators indoors and, following the adage 'Early to bed, early to rise', retiring to bed at six in the morning and rising at four in the afternoon.



Section: May

Punch,  2 (1842), [5].

[Calendar]

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Vaccination, Disease


    Notes the date of the introduction of the 'vaccine virus', the 'matter which concerns cows'. Notes the birthday of Edward Jenner Jenner, Edward (1749–1823) DSB
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, who 'repealed the small-pox'.



Punch,  2 (1842), [5].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Universities, Lecturing, Societies


    Seasonal observations on the lives of London medical students. Describes the summer courses offered by the 'exceedingly facetious' Society of Apothecaries Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London
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. Lectures concern such topics as 'Intoxication' and 'the Hot Negus and the Caledonians'.



Punch,  2 (1842), [5].

Meteorological Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Meteorology


    Gives advice on miscellaneous meteorological phenomena. For example, notes that 'you may safely calculate on rain, if you plan a pic-nic party, or a visit to a Vauxhall Gala', and that 'fine weather may be obtained by leaving home with a macintosh, clogs, and a shabby gingham umbrella'.



Section: June

Punch,  2 (1842), [6].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Botany


    Seasonal 'Directions to Medical Students'. Notes that on 'botanical excursions', students never manage to reach further than public houses and that the 'professor's class is generally composed of two new men and the skeleton overhead'.



Punch,  2 (1842), [6].

Medical Hints for Festival or Summer Quarter

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Health


    Miscellaneous medical advice includes cold bathing after running in the sun, and eating cayenne pepper to stimulate gastric reactions.



Section: July

Punch,  2 (1842), [7].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Botany, Dissection


    Seasonal observations on the lives of London medical students. For example, notes that 'dissecting-rooms lighted from the ceiling become anatomical hothouses'.



Section: August

Punch,  2 (1842), [8].

[Calendar]

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Heroism, Scientific Practitioners


    Records the death date of William Herschel Herschel, Sir William (1738–1822) DSB ODNB
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and adds that 'all the Evening Stars went into Mourning'.



Punch,  2 (1842), [8].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Commerce, Schools


    Seasonal observations on the lives of London medical students. Notes that medical students returning to their studies 'exchange their anatomical labours for pauper ones at five shillings a case' and develop anxieties about presenting themselves as candidates at Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital
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.



Section: September

Punch,  2 (1842), [9].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Anatomy, Textbooks, Lecturing


    Describes the activities of students and lecturers on returning to medical school. For example, notes that London medical students 'begin to learn the bones of the head from an old edition of William Cheselden's Cheselden, William (1688–1752) ODNB
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Anatomy Cheselden, William 1713. The Anatomy of the Humane Body, London: N. Cliff [and 2 others]
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, while lecturers 'return from fishing in the lakes to fishing for pupils'.



Punch,  2 (1842), [9].

Medical Hints for the Autumn Quarter

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Disease, Nutrition


    Seasonal medical advice. For example, urges readers to encourage the 'Cholera Morbus', 'a disease of infinite service as regards the alimentary canal', by eating such foods as 'cheap pickled salmon and undressed cucumber'. Notes that brilliant white teeth can be produced by eating 'vegetable and mineral acids of all kinds'.



Section: October

Punch,  2 (1842), [10].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Hospitals, Surgery


    Seasonal observations of the London medical scene. For example, notes that 'hospital surgeons hunt up the lame and halt, to make a grand operating field-day for the commencement of the season', and that pawnbrokers 'display tempting dissecting-cases at seven and sixpence'.



Punch,  2 (1842), [10].

New Regulations to be Observed by Students Qualifying for Medical Practitioners

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Physiology, Anatomy


    Medical students are required to complete such tasks as 'having attended at least one ball per week at the Lowther-rooms' and to have learnt physiology 'from the first volume of Punch Punch (1841–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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' and 'Anatomy and Muscular Development from the sparring at the Coach and Horses in Frith Street'.



Section: November

Punch,  2 (1842), [11].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education, Dissection, Amusement, Surgery


    Seasonal 'Directions to Medical Students' includes such advice as purchasing fireworks 'for a grand pyrotechnic fete in the dissecting-room during the lecture upon the Practice of Physic' and putting a 'sixpenny maroon' firework in the body of the anatomical subject being dissected by 'a new man' against whom one bears a grudge.



Section: December

Punch,  2 (1842), [12].

[Calendar]

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Chemistry, Scientific Practitioners, Invention, Mining, Instruments


    Notes the birthday of Humphry Davy Davy, Sir Humphry, Baronet (1778–1829) DSB ODNB
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, the 'inventor of the safety lamp, by which he became Lord Chancellor of Coal-pits, & Grand Guardian of Miners'.



Punch,  2 (1842), [12].

Remarks

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Education


    Seasonal observations on the lives of medical students. For example, notes that 'Barrels of oyster-shells are now forwarded to the resident apothecary at the hospital; and two gastrocenmii muscles, with the tendo Achollis cut short, are packed in small fish baskets and sent to the house-surgeon as a pair of soles'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 21.

Phrenotypics; or, Brain Printing

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Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Phrenology, Psychology, Quackery, Societies


    Spoof report of paper on 'printing on the brain' by a Major Veryslowsky at the Shadwell Institution for the Encouragement of Human Everything. Veryslowsky describes cases of people who exhibited formidable memory. Introduces his system of 'phrenotypics' in which parts of books to be memorised are 'chalked up on the wall in very large letters'. Notes that the contents of James Grant's Grant, James (1802–1879) ODNB
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The Great Metropolis Grant, James 1836. The Great Metropolis, 2 vols, London: Sanders and Otley
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can be memorised with the words 'Grant', 'Quackery', 'Pure', and 'Nonsense'. Notes that Veryslowsky's audience left cheering and exclaiming '"Quackery", "Pure Nonsense" in conformity with' the lecturer's lesson.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 26.

Man versus Machine

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Q, pseud.  [[Douglas W Jerrold]] Jerrold, Douglas William (1803–1857) ODNB
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Jerrold, Walter. 1910. Douglas Jerrold and 'Punch', London: Macmillan and Co.
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Genre:

Essay, Polemic

Subjects:

Machinery, Steam-power, Artisans, Human Development, Progress, Politics, Class, Commerce, Political Economy

People mentioned:

Francis Bacon (1st Viscount St Alban) Bacon, Francis, 1st Viscount St Alban (1561–1626) DSB ODNB
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    A fiery attack on the greed created by the mechanical systems of manufacture. A court-room confrontation is described in which a puny, 'famine-stricken' labourer sues the manufacturer whose systems of production have forced his family into poverty. The defendant employs a 'Sergeant MAMMON' as his lawyer, who throws 'the scorn of disbelief upon the plaintiff' and advises him to return to 'his cellar' where he will starve with the rest of his family. The plaintiff then identifies the evils of extending manufactures which, following Robert Peel's Peel, Sir Robert, 2nd Baronet (1788–1850) ODNB
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view that a connection exists between increased demand for manufactures and increased machine power, he believes will 'bring into play more machinery and not employ manual labour in anything like the rate of the increase in the machine department'. Breaking away from this drama, the author then attacks the progress of machinery as a 'terrible calamity' that has 'made the strong man so much live lumber'. He goes on to ask how 'statesmen and philosophers' are going to 'prepare for the crisis' given that 'tens of thousand-thousand hands' will be 'made idle by the ingenuity of human mind', and believes that the 'multitude' will 'shout for an adjustment of interests'. Concludes by insisting that the 'steam-engine [...] must and will carry statesmen back to first principles. As it is machinery is a fiend to the poor; the time will come when it will be as a beneficient angel'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 39.

The Natural History of the Welsh Rabbit

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History, Physiology, Animal Development


    Considers the 'physiology', 'geographical distribution', 'reproduction', and 'food' of the Welsh rabbit (i.e. Welsh Rarebit).



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Punch,  2 (1842), 49.

A Nigger Professor of Cramanology

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Anon

Genre:

Dialogue, Spoof

Subjects:

Phrenology, Race, Anatomy


    Written in patois, it depicts two black people discussing 'cramanology'. Caesar, who has just attended lectures on the subject, describes the practice to Cuffey, who is unacquainted with the subject. Summarises it as 'de hills and de hollows ob de skull, de nobs and de no-nobs, to show de natural genus ob de interlect'. Caesar feels Cuffey's skull and informs his surprised friend that he possesses well-developed organs for 'eatin fish' and singing.



Punch,  2 (1842), 50.

Punch's Stomachology  [2/2]Anon, 'Punch's Stomachology', Punch, 1 (1841), 232

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Anon

Genre:

Essay, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Phrenology, Anatomy, Class, Psychology


    Explains that the 'sustaining faculties' of the stomach are 'particularly active amongst lower classes of the community' and that the 'Sentiments or Affections draw us by a mysterious and irresistible power towards those viands which are calculated to afford us more refined pleasure'. Thinks his system of 'stomachology' will 'form a valuable indication of human character' and can be used to choose partners, servants, and politicians.



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Punch,  2 (1842), [71].

The Medical Student

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J Leech Leech, John (1817–64) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Genre:

Illustration, Drollery; Poetry, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J Leech Leech, John (1817–64) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Hospitals, Education, Physiology, Medical Treatment


    One of twelve woodcuts and poems in a series entitled 'Punch's Valentines!'. Depicts a medical student smoking a pipe and drinking a pot of beer, while standing before a young woman who sits behind a shop counter. Notes that the medical students 'grind instruction just enough to pass / St George's St George's Hospital
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, Guy's Guy's Hospital
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, North London North London Hospital for Consumption
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and King's College King's College, London—Hospital
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', and thirst alike for 'half-and-half' (a mixture of two malt liquors, commonly ale and porter) and 'knowledge'. The student offers his heart, 'aorta, valves and all', to the young woman. Notes that medical students' 'funds incline' to 'cheap hats and boots'. The young woman eschews the hospital's 'dull gloom' and practices the 'Physiology of Deglutition'. The student declares to her that he'll 'ne'er know peace until our hands / Shall form a "ganglion" with Hymen's bands'. Thinks his beloved is 'as precious and dear as sulphate of quinine'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 81.

The World

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Extra-Terrestrial Life, Societies


    Ponders the meaning of 'the world'. Believes this is the 'age of astronomy' owing to the fact that 'more worlds are mentioned in daily conversation' than William Herschel Herschel, Sir William (1738–1822) DSB ODNB
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ever observed. Identifies several worlds in society including 'the scientific world' which is 'full of smoke and noise as the birthplace of steam ought to be'. Thinks the British Association for the Advancement of Science British Association for the Advancement of Science
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should identify which of these is 'by pre-eminence, the World'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 87.

A Few Lines from Mr Joseph Muff

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Joseph Muff Muff, Joseph
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Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J Leech Leech, John (1817–64) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment


    Describes his experience of opening a new surgery. Notes that his patients are 'select rather than numerous' and explains how he managed to raise his reputation by treating a case of a dislocated shoulder. Explains that he has thrown away the labels on his bottles of medicine because of the illiteracy of people in his neighbourhood. Describes a case in which a local patient rubbed her leg with a poisonous lotion. The illustration shows a small girl being served in an apothecary's shop.



Punch,  2 (1842), 92.

Hardware Philosophy

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Invention, Progress, Domestic Economy, Progress


    Considers that a newspaper advertisement for a 'Reflecting Oven' says a great deal for the 'march of the intellect' and anticipates the arrival of an 'Imaginative Gridiron' and 'Sensible Warming-Pan'.



Punch,  2 (1842), 93.

Mary White, of the Murder at the 'Old Tabard'

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Anon

Genre:

Review, Drollery

Subjects:

Electricity, Amusement


    Describes a visit to the Victoria Theatre Victoria Theatre
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to see a 'new drama'. Went along to be 'electrified', having been attracted by an advertisement boasting the play's 'powerfully electric situations'. Reports that the 'conductor' of the 'stage electricity' was Miss Vincent. Describes other 'powerfully electric situations'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 135.

On the Earthquake that Didn't Keep its Appointment

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Anon

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Geology, Scientific Practitioners, Prognostication, Medical Practitioners, Controversy


    Concerns the earthquake that failed to hit London. Tells a 'Dr Dree' and 'Dr Dee Dee, John (1527–1608) DSB
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' that despite their 'prophecies of woe' the earthquake amounted to 'no / very great shakes at all'. Draws the moral that 'for once two Doctors did agree' but that 'they were wrong'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 145–46.

Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 1  [1/11]Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 2. Mr Rapp's Farewell Feast', Punch, 2 (1842), 155–56
Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience. No. 6—How Jack Randle got on During Mr Muff's Absence', Punch, 2 (1842), 207
Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 9. The Windsor Expedition', Punch, 2 (1842), 237–38

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Anon

Genre:

Short Fiction, Satire, Serial

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Hospitals, Disease


    Continues the story of Joseph Muff from Joseph Muff, 'A Few Lines from Mr Joseph Muff', Punch, 2 (1842), 87. Describes Muff's surgery and introduces his assistant, Jack Randle. Reports that Muff has succeeded in causing cases of fever, rheumatism (which Muff hopes will prove 'chronic'), and ringworm, and is trying to introduce ringworm into a local school. Describes Randle's highly dangerous technique for 'keeping people awake who have taken laudanum' and his skill at 'toothdrawing'. Introduces the story of 'Mr Rapp's Farewell Feast', Mr Rapp being a house-surgeon to 'St. Tourniquet's Hospital'. Believes that 'next to imprisonment for debt there are few positions in life more cheerfully exhilarating than that of house-surgeon to a hospital'. Lists many reasons why a surgeon's life is 'enviable', including being surrounded by 'scenes of the most peasant and mirth-inspiring description', 'breathing the purest atmosphere in the world', and 'lunch upon hospital cheese'. Notes that few medical students refuse invitations especially if they come with offers of 'unlimited half-and-half [a mixture of malt liquors, often ale and porter], inexhaustible tobacco-jars, or uncounted pipes'. Adds that Muff has left his assistant and accepted Rapp's invitation to his farewell feast.



Punch,  2 (1842), 149.

Metaphysics

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J Leech Leech, John (1817–64) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Genre:

Illustration, Satire

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J Leech Leech, John (1817–64) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Subjects:

Metaphysics, Matter Theory, Philosophy


    Depicts a drunken scene in a room. One drunken figure smoking a cigar converses with another holding a glass of wine. Another man is slumped on a table and the feet of another figure poke out from under the table-cloth. A book by Immanuel Kant Kant, Immanuel (1724–1804) DSB
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lies on the floor. The smoker agrees with the drinker's notion of 'Corporeity' but points out that it 'presupposes—(hic)— the idea of absolute spirituality—(hic)—perfection' and is incompatible with the 'definition of space'. The drinker replies 'Well!—don't—go—old fellow. Have some more m-m-m-ore g-g-g-r-o-grog'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 155–56.

Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 2. Mr Rapp's Farewell Feast  [2/11]Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 1', Punch, 2 (1842), 145–46
Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience. No. 6—How Jack Randle got on During Mr Muff's Absence', Punch, 2 (1842), 207
Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 9. The Windsor Expedition', Punch, 2 (1842), 237–38

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Anon

Genre:

Short Fiction, Satire, Serial

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Surgery, Education, Dissection, Anatomy, Pharmaceuticals, Class


    Describes revelries at Mr Rapp's farewell feast. The lecture-room skeleton was 'placed in a classical attitude' in the banqueting room, and the base of its skull used as a 'tobacco-box, proving that medical students, in their most idle moments, never lose sight of their studies'. Notes that the 'dissections' of the meat were 'speedily carved into anatomical preparations'. One guest, Mr Mahhug, sings a song entitled 'An Assistant wanted'. The song requests a 'gentleman' for a 'country practitioner highly genteel / With a union of paupers to physic and heal'. He asks for somebody who has a wide range of medical skills including the ability to 'bleed with precision, ne'er missing a vein' and to 'draw double teeth without fracture or pain'. He must know the 'Pharmacopoeia by heart', 'ne'er seem reluctant—when sent for—to go', and 'come in the parlour to dinner and tea', but return to his surgery when the meal's over. He must also be 'well dress'd', be able to 'walk like a postman', always be 'making a draught, mixture, or pill', and be able to 'sleep in a garret, small, dreary, and chill'.(155)



Punch,  2 (1842), 161.

The Bear and the Pine-Apple

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Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Zoological Gardens, Animal Behaviour, Publishing, Government, Politics


    Subtitled, 'A True Story, Dedicated to Thomas Wakley Wakley, Thomas (1795–1862) ODNB
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, M.P.', it describes an 'odd event' at the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
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. A man tries to feed a pine-apple to the 'great polar bear' in the gardens, but the bear, who is depicted in the illustration as a creature with Wakley's face, rejects the food as 'contemptible', an allusion to Wakley's fierce opposition to the Copyright Bill. The bear insists that the only thing on earth it really relishes is 'guts'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 168.

Prolusiones Etymologicæ

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Anon

Genre:

Extract, Spoof

Subjects:

Nomenclature, Philosophy, Disease


    A 'Specimen of a Proposed Philosophical Dictionary' proposing alternative etymologies for several common words and phrases. Entries include: 'Dust—A title originated by philosophers, in respect of its worthlessness, and perpetuated by the swell mob and the undergraduates of the two learned Universities, in respect of its pithiness'; 'Tin—Frequently acquired by brass; species pro specie; possibly from Τιυειυ, to pay'; and 'Oil of Palms—Mataphora venustissima. A specific much in vogue for rigid fingers and horny fistedness; thought, strange to say, it only serves to augment the itch that so often affects the hand. It is absorbed into the system with singular facility, but requires a tremendous squeeze to re-express it'.



Punch,  2 (1842), 171–72.

On the Geography of Seven Dials

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Anon

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Geology, Natural History, Ethnography, Class


    Observes that the geology of the Seven Dials district of London consists of 'granite rhomboids placed closely together, the whole forming a [...] carriage way'. Its 'Natural History' consists of domestic animals, 'boxes of mignonette', 'large quantities of mustard and cress', and 'cabbage leaves [...] thickly sown in every gutter'. Its inhabitants are 'a brave and affable race, whose manners and customs are more worthy of observation than emulation'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 175–83.

The Lions of London

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery



[7] The British Museum

Subjects:

Museums, Entomology, Natural History


    Describes the British Museum British Museum
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as an 'admirable building' full of 'everything curious, from an elephant's tusk to the magnified leg of a bluebottle'. Notes the museum's distinguished collection of butterflies and the fact that such species are preserved on valuable pins. Claims that between 1835 and 1840, the museum began receiving donations of 'bottled gooseberries', the enjoyment of which is the privilege of the museum's curator. (177)



[16] The Admiralty

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Government, Navigation


    Describes the Admiralty Admiralty
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and observes that the telegraph pole on top of the building is 'used to stir up authorities in case of any news of importance'. Passers-by 'vainly endeavour to make head or tail of it'. Considers the telegraph's powers of communication to be 'rather limited' because it can 'only make an L, and E, and F, or a T' and has difficulty with Y's and W's. Adds that the telegraph is 'generally at work on foggy days, when of course no harm can be done by misunderstanding'. (179)



[20] Bazaars

Subjects:

Museums, Zoology, Horticulture


    Describes the Pantheon Pantheon, Oxford Street
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as 'a conservatory of unknown plants, and evergreen shrubs, occasionally disposed of to horticulturists who are equally so'. Notes that its fountain and basin contains 'gold fish' rather than 'red herrings'. (181)



[23] Hospitals

Subjects:

Hospitals, Medical Treatment, Medical Practitioners, Mesmerism, Animal Magnetism


    Describes hospitals as 'edifices' which 'have in view the provision of subjects for anatomy, the pecuniary benefit of their officers, and the trial of new remedies' upon patients. Adds that the wards afford an 'agreeable' mid-day walk for 'studious and scientific men'. Lists 'attributes' of gentlemen walking in various hospitals. Those in Guy's Hospital Guy's Hospital
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and St Thomas's Hospital St Thomas's Hospital
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are prone to 'half-and-half, anatomical fracas, and billiards', while those at University College Hospital University College Hospital Medical School
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are prone to 'Conjuring, juggling, and Mesmerism'. (182)




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Punch,  2 (1842), 193.

Medical Poetry

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Anon

Genre:

Introduction; Poetry, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Pharmaceuticals


    Subtitled 'Mr. Wakley Wakley, Thomas (1795–1862) ODNB
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, the Modern Orpheus', the illustration depicts Wakley as Orpheus and the text responds to Wakley's claim that 'he could mix up a poem as well as any of the regular practitioners, and licentiates in the same verse line'. His recipe consists of eight lines of Latin text including 'Zephyrorum murmur / Osculorum candent', 'Virginum lacrym / Hominum perjur'.



Punch,  2 (1842), 195.

The Geological Society

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Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Geology, Societies


    Describes the Geological Society's Geological Society of London
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inspection of 'the treasure of the dust-hole'. After this 'rich mine of geological lore' was opened up a cloud of 'ashy particles' filled the room. Exploring the contents of the hole, the president of the society found cinders, 'chiefly to be found in the neighbourhood of Mount Vesuvius' and 'a good deal of vegetable matter'. The society also discovered a piece of slate among the ashes—the result of 'an experiment of the coal-merchant [...] desirous of witnessing the combination of slate and carbon'—and a 'tertiary deposit of potato peelings'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 207.

Curiosities of Medical Experience. No. 6—How Jack Randle got on During Mr Muff's Absence  [6/11]Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 1', Punch, 2 (1842), 145–46
Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 2. Mr Rapp's Farewell Feast', Punch, 2 (1842), 155–56
Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 9. The Windsor Expedition', Punch, 2 (1842), 237–38

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Anon

Genre:

Short Fiction, Satire, Serial

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Pharmaceuticals, Gender, Mental Illness


    Describes Jack Randle's attempts to treat a female patient who is suffering from a 'fit of hysterics'. Notes that he placed 'cupping glasses' on the patient's head and a tourniquet on her arm, and informed her that 'these measures would counteract the photographic circulation, caused by too much excitement of the tariff and system in general'. Describes Randle's experiences bleeding a farmer, and in response to Joseph Muff, asks whether he 'ever imagines that medical men know what etiquette meant' and insists that Muff 'cannot think what a generous, liberal-minded, open-hearted set of men they are'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 218.

Polytechnic Poetry

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Anon

Genre:

Introduction; Song, Drollery

Subjects:

Exhibitions, Display, Machinery, Gender, Zoology, Military Technology, Instruments


    Introduces two 'effusions of some highly mechanical bard who has found in the Tank at the Polytechnic another Hippocrene', an allusion to exhibits at the Royal Polytechnic Institution Royal Polytechnic Institution
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. 'The Song of the Bell, (not Schiller's Schiller, Friedrich (Johann Chrisoph Friedrich von) (1759–1805) CBD
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)', which puns on the word 'belle', invites Miss Brown to dive into the large water tank at the Polytechnic in its famous 'Diving Bell'. Explains how Miss Brown can obtain more air and that she can expect to see various fish and 'pieces of the ship, / That is blown up thrice a day' in the tank. 'He Wore a Suit of Moses' describes an encounter with one of the Polytechnic's divers, who descended to the bottom of the water tank and later placed some gunpowder in a model of the HMS Royal George HMS Royal George
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, which was to be destroyed by Charles W Pasley's Pasley, Sir Charles William (1780–1861) ODNB
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'batteries'. The author notes how the diver later emerged from the tank and drank some beer 'behind the air-pump stand'.



Punch,  2 (1842), 224.

Entomological Notice for the Month of May

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Entomology, Animal Behaviour


    Describes the features and habits of various 'insects' to be observed in London where the reported behaviour of the 'insect' typically refers to that of a certain type of Londoner who shares a name with the insect. For example, 'Sweeps' are described as all having a 'dusty brown' head and thorax and as having antennae which are either dirty white feathers or deep orange; 'Painted Ladies', numerous 'towards evening', are considered to 'fall easy prey to any one inclined to pursue them'; 'Red Admirals' are considered 'very rare' although one was seen in Portland Place; and the 'Hawk tribe' can be found 'about the young sprigs' on Epsom Downs.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 233.

Punch's Practical Philosophy

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Anon

Genre:

Proceedings, Spoof

Subjects:

Societies, Physics, Mechanics, Scientific Practitioners, Light


    Describes a meeting of the 'Practical Association of Parochial Philosophers'. Gives an absurdly technical account of how one member opened a bottle of ginger beer, and reports other members' equally technical discussions of what happened after the bottle was opened. For example, one 'gentleman' who was struck in the eye by the cork, said that it 'struck me (loud cheers) that there was a smart pain in my left organ of vision, and there was a sort of flashing sensation in the part affected, that was exceedingly interesting, and in the highest degree curious'. The meeting, which 'was kept up till late an hour' and which was sustained by consumption of liquor, also established a number of conclusions about beer drinking, including the fact that 'the force employed in the social operation, usually called "the honours" after drinking a toast, imparts a centrifugal force to a tumbler, which is sufficient to bring it in contact with a window at a distance of fourteen feet'.



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Punch,  2 (1842), 237–38.

Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 9. The Windsor Expedition  [9/11]Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 1', Punch, 2 (1842), 145–46
Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience—No. 2. Mr Rapp's Farewell Feast', Punch, 2 (1842), 155–56
Anon, 'Curiosities of Medical Experience. No. 6—How Jack Randle got on During Mr Muff's Absence', Punch, 2 (1842), 207

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Anon

Genre:

Short Fiction, Satire, Serial

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Education, Collecting, Natural History, Botany


    Considers summer courses in natural history taught at medical schools to be 'most exciting' and crucial to making a 'medical man' trustworthy. Notes that medical botanists are considered 'harmless and inoffensive maniacs' by the students, and 'would lecture to themselves and their vegetables' were it not for the few pupils they can take on botanical 'excursions'. Introduces Dr Wurzel, a professor of botany, who took some of the protagonists of the story on a botanical excursion.



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