Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

T H, pseud.  [Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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Subjects:

Physics

    The illustration depicts a fountain containing a statue of a child under an umbrella.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

T H, pseud.  [Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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Subjects:

Astronomy, Instruments

    Depicts a rear-view of a man gazing at the sky from a balcony. He is dressed in a long robe and a turban, from underneath which a pair of telescopes protrude; the turban and telescopes together resemble a snail with protuberant antennae.

Genre:

Reminiscences, Spoof

Subjects:

Physiognomy

    The narrator reflects that 'as for an occasional drill', he could 'make shift, like Lavater Lavater, Johann Kaspar (1741–1801) CBD
Close   View the register entry >>, to right-about-face' (21).

Genre:

Letter, Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Horticulture, Publishing

Institutions mentioned:

Horticultural Society Royal Horticultural Society
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Genre:

Poetry, Spoof

Subjects:

Steam-power, Transport

Genre:

Paper, Spoof

Subjects:

Natural History

    Describes the 'Greenwich Pensioner' as if he were a natural history specimen: 'a sort of stranded marine animal, that the receding tide of life has left high and dry on the shore' (63).

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Steam-power, Transport, Political Economy, Crime

    Refers to the dangers of travelling 'upon a Gurney [i.e. a steam carriage invented by Goldsworthy Gurney Gurney, Sir Goldsworthy (1793–1875) ODNB
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Close   View the register entry >> swears the world 'always bears above the proper number' (109). Suggests that, while conveyancing law is used to transfer larger pieces of property, thieves can be relied upon to convey 'lighter things, watch, brooches, rings' (110).

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Nutrition, Authorship, Medical Treatment, Alchemy

    Refers to a fictional 'surgeon of great note—named Aberfeldie. / A very famous Author upon Diet, / Who, better starr'd than Alchemists of old, / By dint of turning mercury into gold, / Had settled at his country-house in quiet' (111).

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

T H, pseud.  [Thomas Hood] Cruikshank, George (1792–1878) ODNB
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Subjects:

Zoology, Ornithology, Vaccination, Chemistry

    Applauds those 'PHILANTHROPIC men' who aim at removing to a distance the 'vile Zoology' of Smithfield Market Smithfield Market
Close   View the register entry >>, and 'routing that great nest of Hornithology' (122). The illustration captioned 'Iö—after vaccination' (facing 123) depicts a recumbent cow with long flowing locks (in Greek mythology, Iö was turned into a white heifer by Zeus to protect her from the wrath of Hera). Invites the reader to imagine being pinned to the wall by an 'Ox infuriate [...] / Giving you a strong dose of Oxy-Muriate [i.e. chlorine]' (124).

Genre:

Reminiscences, Spoof

Subjects:

Natural History

    The narrator refers to having, as an undertaker, 'obtained a contract for Parochial Conchology—or shells for the paupers' (149).

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Superstition, Gender, Education, Chemistry, Observatories

    Celebrates the pyrotechnic achievements of Madame Hengler. While in 'olden time' such apparently astronomical displays may have evoked superstitous fear, they do so no longer (156–57). Speculates on how her education might have fitted her for her occupation (157–58). Her displays cause 'hoax'd Astronomers' to 'look up and stare / From tall observatories, dumb and dizzy, / to see a Squib in Cassiopeia's Chair!' (158–59).

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

T H, pseud.  [Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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Subjects:

Pharmaceuticals

    The illustration captioned 'Soap-orifics and Sud-orifics' (facing 161) depicts a large washerwoman labouring over a tub of washing surrounded by clouds of steam.