Science in the 19th Century Periodical

The Comic Annual [1st] [2nd]

Introductory Essay
Volume [1]  (1830)
Comic Annual,  1 (1830), [i].

Curling Fluid

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

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

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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.



Comic Annual,  1 (1830), facing 14.

Fancy Portrait: Galileo Galilei, Galileo (1564–1642) DSB
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T H, pseud.  [Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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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.



Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 17–22.

Drawn for a Soldier

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[Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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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
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, to right-about-face' (21).



Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 23–26.

A letter from a Market Gardener to the Secretary of the Horticultural Society

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Thomas Frost, pseud.  [Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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Genre:

Letter, Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Horticulture, Publishing

Institutions mentioned:

Horticultural Society Royal Horticultural Society
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Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 62.

Sonnet on Steam. By an Under-Ostler

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[Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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Genre:

Poetry, Spoof

Subjects:

Steam-power, Transport


Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 63–64.

A Greenwich Pensioner

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[Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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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).



Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 107–10.

Conveyancing

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[Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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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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]'. Relates that Thomas R Malthus Malthus, Thomas Robert (1766–1834) DSB
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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).



Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 111–12.

A Good Direction

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[Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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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).



Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 122–27.

Ode to the Advocates for the Removal of Smithfield Market

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[Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

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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
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, 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).



Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 147–54.

The Sorrows of an Undertaker

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[Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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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).



Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 155–60.

Ode to Madame Hengler Hengler, Sarah (c. 1765–1845) ODNB
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, Firework-Maker to Vauxhall Royal Gardens, Vauxhall
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[Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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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).



Comic Annual,  1 (1830), 161–66.

A Report from Below!

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[Thomas Hood] Hood, Thomas (1799–1845) ODNB
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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.