Science in the 19th Century Periodical

Punch, Or the London Charivari [1st]

Introductory Essay
Volume 58  (January to June 1870)
Punch,  58 (1870), iii–iv.

Preface

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Anon

Genre:

Notes

Subjects:

Physiognomy

People mentioned:

Johann K Lavater Lavater, Johann Kaspar (1741–1801) CBD
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Punch,  58 (1870), [v]–[viii].

Introduction

Anon

Genre:

Notes

Subjects:

Experiment, Pollution, Disease


    Under 'Notes', summarises articles on John Tyndall's Tyndall, John (1820–93) DSB
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lectures on dust and disease (Anon, 'Professor Tyndall's Motto', Punch, 58 (1870), 44, , Jeremiah Hunks, 'Good News for Bad Travellers', Punch, 58 (1870), 53), corruption at the Bridgewater election , Anon, 'The Real Bridgewater Canal', Punch, 58 (1870), 85, and F L Newton's Newton, Dr F L (1810–83) Fodor 1934
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spiritualist healing exploits (, Anon, 'Prize Translations. (By Our Own Dunce)', Punch, 58 (1870), 243), [vii].



Punch,  58 (1870), [i].

Calendar for the Year

Anon

Genre:

Illustration; Notes

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Subjects:

Scientific Practitioners, Natural History, Physiognomy, Electricity, Engineering, Invention, Steam-power, Astronomy, Cosmology, Architecture, Mathematics, Botany, Light, Natural Philosophy, Manufactories, Philosophy, Exploration, Heroism, Hunting

People mentioned:

Carl Linnaeus, Linnaeus (or von Linné), Carl (1707–78) DSB
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Johann K Lavater, Lavater, Johann Kaspar (1741–1801) CBD
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Benjamin Franklin, Franklin, Benjamin (1706–90) DSB
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James Watt, Watt, James (1736–1819) DSB
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Luigi Galvani, Galvani, Luigi (1737–98) DSB
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Nicholas Copernicus, Copernicus, Nicholas (1473–1543) DSB
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Christopher Wren, Wren, Sir Christopher (1632–1723) DSB
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George L Leclerc, comte de Buffon, Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de (1707–88) DSB
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Roger Bacon, Bacon, Roger (c. 1219–c. 1292) DSB
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Matthew Boulton, Boulton, Matthew (1728–1809) ODNB
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Auguste Comte, Comte, Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier (Auguste) (1798–1857) DSB
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John Rennie, Rennie, John (1761–1821) ODNB
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James Cook, Cook, James (1728–79) DSB
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Gottfried W Leibniz, Leibniz, Gottfried Wilhelm (1646–1716) DSB
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Izaak Walton Walton, Izaak (1593–1683) DSB
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    Surrounding the calendar are a series of vignettes satirizing several topical political and social issues. These include a stereotypical Irishman with a lobster's body and two fish (both with legs) in a scuffle.



Punch,  58 (1870), [ii].

The Antipathies of the Great

Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Anecdote, Drollery

Subjects:

Veterinary Science

People mentioned:

Jeremy Bentham Bentham, Jeremy (1748–1832) ODNB
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Punch,  58 (1870), [iii].

Popular Error

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Ornithology, Animal Behaviour, Nutrition


Punch,  58 (1870), [iii].

"Positivism"

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Philosophy, Domestic Economy


Punch,  58 (1870), [iii].

Progress of Science, 1869

Anon

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Machinery, Amusement


    Shows a barber's shop in which the hairdresser asks a customer, 'Shall I—blow down your neck by machinery, Sir?!'.



Punch,  58 (1870), [iii].

To Correspondents

Anon

Genre:

Editorial Reply, Spoof

Subjects:

Transport, Electricity, Futurism


Punch,  58 (1870), [iii].

Scientific Gossip

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Botanical Gardens, Display, Botany

Institutions mentioned:

Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
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Punch,  58 (1870), [iv].

Saying for the Geographical Society Royal Geographical Society
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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Physical Geography, Nomenclature


Punch,  58 (1870), [v].

[Explaining the Telegraph to Ladies]

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Electricity, Education, Gender


Punch,  58 (1870), [v].

The Antipathies of the Great

Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Anecdote, Drollery

Subjects:

Scientific Practitioners, Domestic Economy

People mentioned:

Isaac Newton Newton, Sir Isaac (1642–1727) DSB
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Punch,  58 (1870), [viii].

At the "Zoo" Zoological Society of London —Gardens
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J T Tenniel, Sir John (1820–1914) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J T Tenniel, Sir John (1820–1914) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Subjects:

Zoological Gardens, Ornithology, Class


Punch,  58 (1870), [ix].

What Next?

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Agriculture, Invention, Futurism


Punch,  58 (1870), [ix].

Zoological

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Zoology, Reading


Punch,  58 (1870), [ix].

The Angle of Incidence

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Light, Hunting


Punch,  58 (1870), [ix].

A Band of Hope

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Internationalism


Punch,  58 (1870), [ix].

Notice to Trustees

Anon

Genre:

Announcement, Spoof

Subjects:

Natural History, Museums, Collecting, Display

Institutions mentioned:

British Museum (Natural History) British Museum (Natural History)
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Punch,  58 (1870), [ix].

To Parents and Guardians

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Spoof

Subjects:

Natural History, Education, Human Development

Institutions mentioned:

Zoological Society—Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
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Punch,  58 (1870), 3.

The Railway Blockhead System

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Charlatanry, Accidents


    Noting the introduction of the block system on the Midland Railway Company's Midland Railway Company
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lines, states that this is 'vastly preferable' to the 'blockhead system', which cut costs and overworked staff, resulting in an increase in the probability of accidents.



Punch,  58 (1870), 3.

Cramming at Home and at School

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Earlswood Earlswood
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Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Mental Illness, Education, Scientific Practitioners, Genius


    Laments that Christmas is the 'season of cramming' the stomach and the mind, although the brain (especially the youthful one) cannot take as much cramming as the stomach. Noting the recent death of a student at Royal Military Academy, Woolwich Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
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, states that while there are cures for physical injuries there is none for 'brain fever'. Supports his case against cramming by noting that Francis Bacon (1st Viscount St Alban) Bacon, Francis, 1st Viscount St Alban (1561–1626) DSB ODNB
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, Isaac Newton Newton, Sir Isaac (1642–1727) DSB
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, Humphry Davy Davy, Sir Humphry, Baronet (1778–1829) DSB ODNB
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, and Michael Faraday Faraday, Michael (1791–1867) DSB
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'never crammed', and by doubting whether any 'great poet or philosopher' is the product of cramming. Urges Mr Punch to tell 'Education-Councillors and Committee-men' whether 'genius and mediocrity' would 'gain by answering the kind of questions proposed by ordinary examiners'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 8.

Medical Police

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Crime, Medical Treatment, Education, Medical Practitioners


    Notes cases of police officers removing apparently intoxicated people to police stations when they should have been taken to hospital because they were really apoplectic and insensible. Regrets that police officers do not have 'medical knowledge', but suggests that if medical practitioners could fulfil roles as policemen then this would reduce the financial burden of providing salaries for medically trained men wanting to practice as doctors.



Punch,  58 (1870), 8.

The Jolly Doctors. (Song of the Bill Season. Ex Cathedrá at a Professional Dinner)

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Anon

Genre:

Song, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Disease, Medical Treatment


    Song sung by two medical practitioners relishing the prospect of making money from the usual glut of 'Christmas bills'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 8.

Weather

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Anon

Genre:

Announcement, Spoof

Subjects:

Meteorology, Prognostication


Punch,  58 (1870), 9.

Parochial Glee

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Anon

Genre:

Song, Drollery

Subjects:

Utilitarianism, Class, Disease, Government


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Punch,  58 (1870), 12.

New Curiosities of Literature

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Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Scientific Practitioners, Nutrition, Physiology, Publishing

People mentioned:

William Paley, Paley, William (1743–1805) DSB
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Francis Bacon (1st Viscount St Alban) Bacon, Francis, 1st Viscount St Alban (1561–1626) DSB ODNB
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Punch,  58 (1870), 12.

Alexandria to Smithfield

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Archaeology, Agriculture


    Discusses remarks in the Echo Echo (1868–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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concerning a report in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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that the bones of the mummified skeletons of the ancient Egyptian King Cheops's Cheops, King of Memphis (26th century BC) CBD
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subjects are to be turned into manure.



Punch,  58 (1870), 13.

Hymn to Saint Trofimus Trophimus of Arles, Saint (fl. 3rd century) http://en.wikipedia.org
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Epicurus Arthriticus Arthrticus, Epicurus
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Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Nutrition, Religion, Health, Disease, Human Development


    Begins by citing an extract from the Standard Standard (1827–60) Evening Standard (1860–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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describing the feast day of St Trofimus, whose bones are said to possess the power to cure a range of diseases, including gout and lumbago. The poem is written from the perspective of a greedy cabman who, despite his Protestant faith, writes to St Trofimus about his passion for good food and wine, his aversion to exercise, and his contraction of gout. He questions what he has done 'to earn a punishment so sore' and describes how his doctor gives him 'beastly drugs, and Vichy water for a treat' but insists on letting the disease take its course. After complaining about the aches and pains caused by his condition he calls on the saint to cure him.



Punch,  58 (1870), 13.

Bishops in Bonds

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Charlatanry, Religion


    Begins by noting that the latest information about the mediums William H H Davenport Davenport, William Henry Harrison (1841–77) WBI
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and Ira E Davenport Davenport, Ira Erastus (1839–1911) WBI
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is that they have been jailed for 'conjuring without a license'. Presents an extract from The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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describing how opponents of the Œcumenical Council Œcumenical Council, Rome
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are brought before it tightly bound in ropes and thus resemble the Davenport brothers. Emphasizes that, unlike the Davenport brothers, these individuals cannot wriggle out of their ropes.



Punch,  58 (1870), 17.

Agricultural Question

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Breeding, Agriculture


Punch,  58 (1870), 18.

Troches

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Anon

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Pharmaceuticals, Language, Medical Treatment, Disease


    Describes the difficulty encountered by the poet in attempting to purchase a box of John I. Brown & Sons Brown, John I., & Sons, Boston, MA
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bronchial 'Troches' (i.e. lozenges), since he does not know how to pronounce the word. Finally asks the vendor's advice about the correct pronunciation.



Punch,  58 (1870), 20.

Rome's Ups and Downs (As Sung before a Select Committee of the Œcumenical Council Œcumenical Council, Rome
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)

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Anon

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Religion, Religious Authority, Cosmology, Astronomy, Scientific Practitioners, Progress


    Begins by relishing the days when 'Europe was dark'—when 'The Church was at ease, / Men obeyed its decrees' and the world 'went very well'. Laments that 'When learning revived [...] Men opened the Book, / And thereunto did look', after which the world 'went very ill'. Believes the time 'When people believed [...] The Earth to be flat, / Heaven's vault above that' was when the world 'went very well', although the world went 'very ill' when Galileo Galilei Galilei, Galileo (1564–1642) DSB
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'Did prove the Earth spun / Around the fixed Sun'. Describes other times when the world went 'well' and 'ill' and concludes by arguing that 'Since we can't gag philosophers [...] then, / In this day of reverse, / Modern science let's curse' when 'You'll see how the world will go then'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 22.

Flashes of Bright Bright, John (1811–89) ODNB
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Light

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Periodicals


Punch,  58 (1870), 23.

Rome and Ramsbotham

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Lavinia R Junior Ramsbotham Junior, Lavinia
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Genre:

Regular Feature, Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Religion, Religious Authority, Astronomy, Instruments, Meteorology, Astrology, Prognostication


    Written from the perspective of a slightly illiterate female correspondent writing from Rome during the meeting of the Œcumenical Council Œcumenical Council, Rome
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. She compares the 'Roman Currycombs' with the underground railway in London, and notes that the 'Great Antipathy' 'Mr Rossy' is here (possibly a reference to the actor Ernesto Rossi Rossi, Ernesto (1827–96) WBI
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) although she believes this is 'the same that invented the large telescope in Ireland somewhere (a reference to William Parsons (3rd Earl Rosse) Parsons, William, 3rd Earl of Rosse (1800–67) DSB
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). In a postscript she tells Mr Punch that the 'weather-prophets sat we're going to have a very bad time of it in Rome; but I don't trust their vaccinations. Give me Old Moore Vox Stellarum (1701–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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and Zamiel Zadkiel's Almanac and Herald of Astrology (1836–1900+) BUCOP
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'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 28–29.

More Happy Thoughts  [28/37][Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 19–20
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 39–40
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 122–23
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 141
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 153
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 165
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 183
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 194–95
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 34–35
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 51
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 56
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 67
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 83
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 89

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[Francis C Burnand] Burnand, Sir Francis Cowley (1836–1917) ODNB
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Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Health, Disease, Medical Treatment


    Describes how the narrator's doctor, Dr Caspar, unexpectedly visited him while eating breakfast in a restaurant. He grumbles that 'when a Doctor calls upon me, as a patient, suddenly, I generally happen to be looking remarkably well, and all the symptoms that made me send for him [...] have vanished' (28). When his dining companions have left, the doctor examines him with his eye-glass and suspects he has 'rheumatic gout' and advises that he takes the waters and is more careful with his diet. The narrator writes down the doctor's system for recovering in the spa town of Aachen.


Reprinted:

Burnand 1871 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1871. More Happy Thoughts, 2nd edn, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
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Punch,  58 (1870), 33.

New Curiosities of Literature

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Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Invention, Nutrition, Meteorology, Medical Treatment


    Droll observations on literary sources of invention. Begins by claiming that the 'original inventor of steel-pens was the founder of Pen-Sylanvia', and claims that 'Not the least useful of the "Century of Inventions" was the celebrated Worcester Sauce, first devised by the Marquis in a dream, while attending the festival of the Three Choirs Worcester Music Festival [Three Choirs Festival]
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in the city from whence he and his condiment derived their title'. Claims that the name of Charles Macintosh Macintosh, Charles (1766–1843) ODNB
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will be immortal 'so long as it continues to rain', that Edmund Spenser Spenser, Edmund (1552?–1599) ODNB
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invented 'another article of dress', and that in the library at Apothecaries' Hall Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London—Apothecaries' Hall
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there is a 'manuscript account, in cipher' in Samuel Pepys's Pepys, Samuel (1633–1703) ODNB
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hand 'of his discovery of Pepsine during a long walk in the country'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 34–35.

More Happy Thoughts  [29/37][Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 19–20
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 39–40
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 122–23
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 141
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 153
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 165
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 183
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 194–95
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 28–29
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 51
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 56
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 67
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 83
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 89

Close

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[Francis C Burnand] Burnand, Sir Francis Cowley (1836–1917) ODNB
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Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Medical Treatment


    Describes the narrator's visit to the spa town of Aachen and in particular his tasting of the mineral waters. He likens the latter to the 'water at the Polytechnic Royal Polytechnic Institution
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[...] after it has been flavoured by an experimental blowing up of the Royal George under water, by the Diving Professor, or some other scientific gentleman connected with the establishment' (35).


Reprinted:

Burnand 1871 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1871. More Happy Thoughts, 2nd edn, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
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Punch,  58 (1870), 35.

Wine and Electricity

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Nutrition, Electricity, Electrochemistry, Health, Time, Human Development


    Discusses news that a 'French savant' has discovered a way of artificially ageing wine by electricity. Suggests that 'stingy people' will be 'ready purchasers of "choice electro-crusted port", or "fine old cheap voltaic claret"', but warns that the premature ageing of wine might have a similar effect on the drinker.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 44.

Chemical News

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Chemistry, Language


    Responds to news of a chemical test for the poisonous content of hair-dyes and other compounds.



Punch,  58 (1870), 44.

A Sabbatomaniac Sawney

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Religious Authority, Religion, Railways, Transport


Punch,  58 (1870), 44.

Astronomical

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Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Observatories, Astronomy

Institutions mentioned:

Royal Observatory, Greenwich Royal Observatory, Greenwich
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Punch,  58 (1870), 44.

Professor Tyndall's Tyndall, John (1820–93) DSB
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Motto

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Physics, Experiment, Pollution


    'Down with the Dust'—a reference to Tyndall's recent experiments on the dust carried by the air.



Punch,  58 (1870), 45.

Rome and Ramsbotham

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Lavinia Ramsbotham, Junior Ramsbotham Junior, Lavinia
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Genre:

Regular Feature, Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Religion, Religious Authority, Astronomy, Observatories, Instruments, Meteorology, Astrology, Prognostication


    Written from the perspective of a slightly illiterate and confused female correspondent writing from Rome during the meeting of the Œcumenical Council Œcumenical Council, Rome
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. She tells Mr Punch that she is 'promised an introduction to Father Sickly [the astronomer Angelo Secchi Secchi, Angelo (Pietro Angelo) (1818–78) DSB
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], who is the Great Astonisher here, as MR. HIND Hind, John Russell (1823–95) DSB
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is at home. FATHER SICKY has a Conservatory ever so high up, and a magnificent stethescope for what my niece's husband calls Sky-entific matters. He has got a machine for stopping the earth's motion. FATHER SICKY (not a nice name) is spoke of here with much reference as the Great Astonisher, because of his star-telling denouncements'. Later she mistakenly insists that Galvin, 'the discoverer of galvanism and other eccentricities', participated in the Reformation, thus conflating Luigi Galvani Galvani, Luigi (1737–98) DSB
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and John Calvin Calvin, John (1509–64) CBD
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.



Punch,  58 (1870), 51.

More Happy Thoughts  [30/37][Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 19–20
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 39–40
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 122–23
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 141
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 153
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 165
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 183
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 194–95
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 28–29
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 34–35
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 56
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 67
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 83
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 89

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[Francis C Burnand] Burnand, Sir Francis Cowley (1836–1917) ODNB
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Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Medical Treatment, Sanitation


    Continues the account of his visit to the spa town of Aachen. Notes the language problems he encountered on his first visit to the baths, especially the German attendant's confusion of 'dirty' and 'thirty' when referring to the water's purity and temperature.


Reprinted:

Burnand 1871 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1871. More Happy Thoughts, 2nd edn, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
Close   View the register entry >>


Punch,  58 (1870), 51.

The Music of the Future

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Sound, Music


    Discusses the proposal to give railway whistles a musical pitch. Believes this will be welcomed by 'excruciated travellers' and 'tortured householders' who live near stations, but hopes this will not be 'a pretext for raising the fares'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 52.

The Insect World. Struggle Between a Rumbler (The Goliathus Gruntator of Violinnaeus Linnaeus (or von Linné), Carl (1707–78) DSB
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and a Scraper-Beetle (Scarabaeus Performaturus Dolenter).

View full article text

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

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [6]

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:

Natural History, Animal Behaviour, Music, Instruments


    Shows a large beetle which, on closer inspection, proves to be a cellist dressed in a tailcoat, with the coat-tails resembling beetles' wings. The illustrations show the musician opening the cello case and playing the instrument, as if it were the attack of one beetle on another. They show the Scraper (cellist) opening the 'cocoon' (cello case) of the Rumbler, which is tempted out of the cocoon by 'a bit of rosin'. The Scraper seizes the Rumbler, 'ties its long wiry antennae to its tail' (attaches the strings of the cello from the tuning pegs to the tailpiece), twists its mandibles (tunes it), and 'throttles' the insect (grabs hold of the fingerboard). In the end, the Rumbler 'falls back on its exhausted antagonist', while a Screecher (i.e the cello bow) 'gazes on the Prostrate Giants of the Insect World'.



^^ Back to the top of this issue

Punch,  58 (1870), 53.

New Curiosities of Literature

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Vaccination, Discovery, Publishing, Invention, Photography


    Notes the controversy over whether William Shakespeare Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) ODNB
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was vaccinated—a controversy caused by the discovery of a manuscript in which John Radcliffe Radcliffe, John (1650–1714) ODNB
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recalled being told by a relative of his grandfather's nurse that Shakespeare owed his preservation 'from the dangerous and disfiguring malady then so rife in England' to a cow. Notes that this cow was subsequently 'treated with the greatest respect' and that facsimilies of the Radcliffe letter are to be reproduced by the 'chromophotolithotintotypoxylographic process'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 53.

Good News for Bad Travellers

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Jeremiah Hunks Hunks, Jeremiah
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Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Pollution, Physics, Gas Chemistry, Experiment, Health, Amusement


    The spoof letter-writer asks his correspondent, Smith, whether his wife knows about John Tyndall's Tyndall, John (1820–93) DSB
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claim that pure alpine air can be brought into the 'chamber of an invalid' by cotton wool. Rejoices at this news because it implies that they will not have to take their wives to Switzerland 'when their health requires recruiting'. Suggests that when his wife requires pure alpine air, he will simply 'get a respirator made of cotton wool' and allow his invalid wife to breathe as much pure air as she needs. Adds that she can gain exercise by ascending Primrose Hill or St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral
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.



Punch,  58 (1870), 53.

Pounders Sterling

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Invention, Controversy, Experiment, Political Economy, Spiritualism


    Invites the alleged rapping 'sperrits' to reply to William Palliser Palliser, Sir William (1830–82) ODNB
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who wrote to The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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complaining about the expense of the controversy over pointed chilled shot (Palliser's invention) and shot of flat-headed steel. Criticizes the fact that so much public money has been spent on 'unnecessary experiments' and wonders where the 'increasing cost of projectiles stop?'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 56.

More Happy Thoughts  [31/37][Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 19–20
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 39–40
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 122–23
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 141
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 153
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 165
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 183
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 194–95
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 28–29
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 34–35
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 51
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 67
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 83
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 89

Close

View full article text

[Francis C Burnand] Burnand, Sir Francis Cowley (1836–1917) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Medical Treatment, Darwinism, Philosophy


    Continues descriptions of the narrator's visit to the spa town of Aachen. During his tedious experience of bathing he has a 'Tremendous Happy Thought', a 'Theory of Origination' that 'will astonish COLENSO Colenso, John William (1814–83) ODNB
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, upset DESCARTES Descartes, René Du Perron (1596–1650) DSB
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, and scatter Darwinian Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
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theories, and perhaps create an entire revolution in philosophy and science'.


Reprinted:

Burnand 1871 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1871. More Happy Thoughts, 2nd edn, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
Close   View the register entry >>


Punch,  58 (1870), 56.

There's Life in the Old Doctor Yet

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Exploration, Cultural Geography, Animal Behaviour


    Denies claims that David Livingstone Livingstone, David (1813–73) ODNB
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is to be 'cut up and burnt for a wizard' by 'Congo witchfinders'. Believes he will survive this ordeal as he survived the 'Mavite marauders'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 61.

Heads and Bodies

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Death, Medical Practitioners, Physiology, Vitalism, Controversy, Politics


    Notes that the claim of Dr Pinel (possibly Philippe C H Pinel Pinel, Philippe Charles Honoré (b. 1828) WBI
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), that guillotined heads 'may live three hours after being severed', has been ridiculed by the Lancet Lancet (1823–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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, which points out that the deoxydisation of the blood and the shock would kill the head sooner. Urges Pinel to ask the Conservative party if 'a party may not live three months without a head'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 64.

Voting by Electricity

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Electricity, Invention, Politics

Institutions mentioned:

Houses of Parliament Houses of Parliament
Close   View the register entry >>


    Presents an extract describing the invention by 'Somebody in Germany' of a 'machine for enabling men in Parliament to vote as quick as lightning'. Thinks that the machine will 'save much loss of time' in voting but suggests that it would be improved if it enabled parliamentarians to vote from their homes. Notes that this would shorten speeches.



^^ Back to the top of this issue

Punch,  58 (1870), 65.

A Death-Ship

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Disease, Death, Nutrition

Publications cited:

Demerara Colonist Demerara Colonist (cited 1870) PU1/58/7/1
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    Alarmed by news of a large number of deaths aboard a 'coolie immigrant ship, from Calcutta to Demerara'. Notes that some of the immigrants died from scurvy, 'a disease that is impossible, if the Government regulations as to provisions are observed'. Explains that the disease was caused by 'bad' lime juice and blames this on the 'immigration agents, inspectors, and protectors of immigrants at Calcutta' as well as 'the owners who bought the bad lime-juice'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 67.

More Happy Thoughts  [32/37][Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 19–20
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 39–40
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 122–23
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 141
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 153
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 165
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 183
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 194–95
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 28–29
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 34–35
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 51
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 56
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 83
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 89

Close

View full article text

[Francis C Burnand] Burnand, Sir Francis Cowley (1836–1917) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Nutrition, Medical Treatment, Discovery


    Describes further remedies prescribed by Dr Caspar to improve the narrator's health, and later details his experiences in a vapour-bath. While bathing, he becomes aware of 'myriads' of ants near the bath which prompts him to ponder the story of Robert the Bruce Robert I, King of Scotland (Robert the Bruce) (1274–1329) ODNB
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and the spider. He then remember that Galileo Galilei Galilei, Galileo (1564–1642) DSB
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'made a scientific discovery about the pendulum while watching a church-lamp during a stupid sermon'.


Reprinted:

Burnand 1871 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1871. More Happy Thoughts, 2nd edn, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
Close   View the register entry >>


Punch,  58 (1870), 73.

Bridgewater and its Election

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Politics, Charlatanry, Natural History, Design, Creationism


    Begins with an extract from the Pall Mall Gazette Pall Mall Gazette (1865–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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describing corruption at a recent election in Bridgewater, Somerset. Following the 'revelations brought about by the Bridgewater Commission', the writer insists that 'there can be no doubt that, for illustrations of design in the natural history of Electioneering, as in that of Creation, we cannot go to a better source than the "Bridgewater Treatises" Chalmers, Thomas et al. 1833–36. The Bridgewater Treatises on the Power, Wisdom and Goodness of God as Manifested in the Creation, 12 vols, London: William Pickering
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between bribers and bribees in that now indignant and immaculate borough'.



^^ Back to the top of this issue

Punch,  58 (1870), 76.

A Liberal Measure

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Railways, Nutrition


Punch,  58 (1870), 77.

La Mode and la Misere

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Utilitarianism, Class, Nutrition, Health


    Begins with two long extracts describing the lavish winter clothes that are currently in fashion. Proceeds to a contrasting extract describing the tragic story of John Sutton Sutton, John (1816/7–70) PU1/58/8/2
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, an unemployed wheelwright from London who died from starvation and exposure to the cold on his way to a workhouse. Regrets that this is 'one of four inquests in the same coroner's district on the same day, ending in the same concise verdict'. Notes that the guardians at St Pancras Poor Law Union St Pancras Poor Law Union
Close   View the register entry >>
were exasperated by their medical officer giving certificates describing the starvation of paupers. The writer suggests that guardians let their paupers starve in order to reduce poor-law rates.



Punch,  58 (1870), 77.

A Good Round Sum

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Physical Geography, Mapping, Societies


    Reports on a 'gentleman' who has bet £500 that the earth is 'not rotund' and that this has been accepted by a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society Royal Geographical Society
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and will be umpired by the editor of 'an old established London paper'. Suggests that the latter is the Globe Globe (1803–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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.



Punch,  58 (1870), 81.

Better Day, Better Deed

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Observation, Measurement, Government, Patronage


    Notes the appropriateness of the fact that on Valentine's Day, Queen Victoria's Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and Empress of India (1819–1901) ODNB
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'gracious message to her loving Commons House of Commons
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' instructed them to provide for the Venus transit expedition of 1874. Adds that besides the 'public grants' needed for the 'CAPTAIN COOKS Cook, James (1728–79) DSB
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, SIR JOSEPH BANKSES Banks, Sir Joseph (1743–1820) DSB ODNB
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, and SIR JOHN HERSCHELS Herschel, Sir John Frederick William (1792–1871) DSB ODNB
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to carry on', there will be the 'annual transit of Venus'—the passage of love-letters through the post.



Punch,  58 (1870), 81.

Secrets in the Air

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Microscopy, Instruments, Pollution, Analytical Chemistry, Religious Authority, Politics, Charlatanry, Utilitarianism


    Begins by describing the researches of George Sigerson Sigerson, George (1838–1925) WBI
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of the Royal Irish Academy Royal Irish Academy
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, who used a microscope to analyse the foul constituents of city air and the more beneficial components of sea and country air. Suggests that a more powerful microscope could 'detect in the air its subtler qualities—say the proportions of weariness, worldliness, and worship, that make up the air of Church; or the elements of patriotism and pomposity, vanity and verbosity, the filaments of red tape, and the dry rust of precedent, that blend in the air of the House of Commons House of Commons
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'. Upholds the value of analysing these and similarly unsavoury elements of the air above Exeter Hall Exeter Hall, Strand
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and around the guardians of St Pancras Poor Law Union St Pancras Poor Law Union
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.



Punch,  58 (1870), 81.

New Curiosities of Literature

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Philosophy, Political Economy, Gravity, Natural Law, Discovery,


    Describing the artefacts of the famous, considers the emotions felt when one handles the toothpick which Alexander Pope Pope, Alexander (1688–1744) ODNB
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was said to have bequeathed to John Arbuthnot Arbuthnot, John (1667–1735) ODNB
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, and which is now kept in the College of Dentists, Glasgow College of Dentists, Glasgow
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. Similarly, contemplates the thoughts that pass through the mind when handling the 'penwiper' that Thomas R Malthus Malthus, Thomas Robert (1766–1834) DSB
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used on the day he completed Malthus 1798 Malthus, Thomas Robert 1798. An Essay on the Principle of Population, as it Affects the Future Improvement of Society: With Remarks on the Speculations of Mr. Godwin, M. Condorcet, and Other Writers. London: J. Johnson
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or 'NEWTON'S Newton, Sir Isaac (1642–1727) DSB
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tobacco-stopper, formed out of a fragment of the apple-tree under which he was sitting in September, when the Yorkshire codling [a variety of apple] fell at his feet, and unfolded to him his grand discovery of the laws of good society'. Later notes how Joseph Banks Banks, Sir Joseph (1743–1820) DSB ODNB
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and Joshua Reynolds Reynolds, Sir Joshua (1723–92) ODNB
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found Edmund Burke Burke, Edmund (1729/30–97) ODNB
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in his Wolverhampton villa 'feeding his turkey poults with Indian corn, at luncheon time'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 82.

Total Eclipse

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Observatories, Scientific Practitioners, Controversy


    Notes Urbain J J Leverrier's Le Verrier, Urbain Jean Joseph (1811–77) DSB
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dismissal from the Observatoire de Paris Observatoire de Paris
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—an event suggesting that Leverrier's 'star is clearly not in the ascendant'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 83.

More Happy Thoughts  [33/37][Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 19–20
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 39–40
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 122–23
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 141
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 153
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 165
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 183
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 194–95
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 28–29
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 34–35
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 51
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 56
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 67
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 89

Close

View full article text

[Francis C Burnand] Burnand, Sir Francis Cowley (1836–1917) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Health, Medical Treatment


    Continues the narrator's description of the language problems encountered while taking vapour baths in Aachen.


Reprinted:

Burnand 1871 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1871. More Happy Thoughts, 2nd edn, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
Close   View the register entry >>


^^ Back to the top of this issue

Punch,  58 (1870), 85.

The Real Bridgewater Canal Bridgewater Canal
Close   View the register entry >>

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Engineering, Transport, Politics, Charlatanry


    'The Voter's Breeches-Pocket'—a reference to the bribery practised at a recent election in Bridgewater.



Punch,  58 (1870), 85.

A Suggestion for Mr. Scudamore Scudamore, Frank Ives (1823–84) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Meteorology


Punch,  58 (1870), 87.

Straight Through From London to Paris—A Suggestion to Mr. John Fowler Fowler, Sir John, 1st Baronet (1817–98) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

View full article text

[George L P B Du Maurier] 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 >>

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [2]

Illustrators:

[George L P B Du Maurier] 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:

Railways, Transport, Engineering, Invention, Aeronautics


    Responding to Fowler's proposal for a railway across the English Channel, this shows two ludicrously impractical solutions to the problem of spanning this stretch of water with a railway. The first shows a steam locomotive and carriages supported on either side by huge canvas wings that appear to be able to flap and thus allow the invention to fly across the channel. The second invention shows a steam locomotive and carriages ploughing away from a coast, closely following the waves, suggesting a railroad built on the sea. Parodying engineering language, the caption asks why a train should not be 'made to run so fast that by mere virtue of its acquired impetus acting on the squared of the distance, multiplied by the hypotenuse of the inclined plane, &c, &c, &c'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 88.

Free and Easy Versions of the Classics

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Force, Language, Magnetism, Electricity, Mesmerism


    Includes the interpretation of 'Persicos odi, puer, appartus' as 'Scientific. Apparatus, an apparatus, persicos, for dispersing, puer odi, the pure Od force'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 88.

A Fine Head of Humbug

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Quackery


    Savages an advertisement for hair restorer, a dubious product which may contain lead or some other poison.



Punch,  58 (1870), 88.

Worth Knowing

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Photography, Philosophy


    Claims that 'one of the greatest improvements in photographic portraiture can be traced back' to 'DES CARTES Descartes, René Du Perron (1596–1650) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>
'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 89.

More Happy Thoughts  [34/37][Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 19–20
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 39–40
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 122–23
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 141
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 153
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 165
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 183
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 57 (1869), 194–95
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 28–29
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 34–35
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 51
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 56
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 67
[Francis C Burnand], 'More Happy Thoughts', Punch, 58 (1870), 83

Close

View full article text

[Francis C Burnand] Burnand, Sir Francis Cowley (1836–1917) ODNB
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Genre:

Diary, Spoof, Serial

Subjects:

Anatomy, Publishing, Metaphysics

Reprinted:

Burnand 1871 Burnand, Francis Cowley 1871. More Happy Thoughts, 2nd edn, London: Bradbury, Evans & Co.
Close   View the register entry >>


Punch,  58 (1870), 90.

A Tartar!

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

Animal Development, Breeding, Representation


    Shows a stable in which an artist paints a portrait of an energetic-looking horse based on a real, but somewhat tired looking horse which a young stable lad holds nearby. The caption indicates the kind of horse which the painter aims to represent: 'In truth he was a noble steed, / A Tartar of the Ukraine Breed, / Who looked as though the speed of thought / Were in his limbs'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 93.

On the Wrong Ground

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Politics, Government, Class, Scientific Practitioners


    Urges 'hand-working men who aspire to Parliamentary representation of their class' to be 'very careful in their choice of fighting-ground' if they wish to retain 'the sympathy and support of the head-working men in their struggle'. Criticises them for putting forward a working man's candidate in a Maidstone by-election where John Lubbock Lubbock, Sir John, 4th Baronet and 1st Baron Avebury (1834–1913) DSB ODNB
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was standing in the Liberal interest. Presents an extract from the Spectator Spectator (1828–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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praising Lubbock as 'an able banker, an accomplished economist and financier, a man of the widest and deepest scientific culture, a thorough physiologist, a good geologist, an original writer on prehistoric times'. Emphasises the rarity of these qualities in the House of Commons House of Commons
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and warns working men that if they hinder the progress of such statesmen as Lubbock they will 'make way for the fox, while the lion and the bear are worrying each other'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 94.

Coming Legislation

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Politics, Government, Railways, Travel


Punch,  58 (1870), 95.

Penny Trains and Passengers

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Dialogue, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Politics, Accidents, Class


    Consists of a dialogue between two working men, William Putty and James Filer. They discuss John Bright's Bright, John (1811–89) ODNB
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proposal to establish cheap working-men's trains, a proposal to which railway companies agreed provided that workers did not 'demand more compensation [for accidents] than a hundred pound a head'. They discuss the reasons why companies do not invest in railway safety and note Bright's claim that accidents on railways do not arise from 'intentional neglect'—a phrase that they try but fail to understand. They conclude by agreeing that what they need are 'trains intentionally made as safe as ever they can be'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 96.

Railway Limb Insurance

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Railways, Accidents


    Presents an extract from the Observer Observer (1791–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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describing the proposal by the directors of several railway companies to introduce into Parliament Houses of Parliament
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a bill to limit the liability of their companies for personal injury sustained by a railway accident. Proceeds to consider railway insurance and insists that only foolish people would insure their lives with the railway companies, although 'every prudent person' would insure 'his limbs and living body'. Suggests establishing a tariff of premiums that depend on the organ to be insured.



^^ Back to the top of this issue

Punch,  58 (1870), 97.

Phœbus's Portraits of Thieves

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Drama, Drollery

Subjects:

Photography, Crime


Punch,  58 (1870), 98.

New Curiosities of Literature

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History, Scientific Practitioners, Zoology, Controversy


    Claims that although Georges L Leclerc, comte de Buffon Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de (1707–88) DSB
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, and Georges Cuvier Cuvier, Georges (1769–1832) DSB
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were 'professors in the same university, living in the same street, and employing the same laundress, [they] ceased to speak to each other for sixteen years and a half, after having been on terms of the closest intimacy, in consequence of a difference that arose between them at a social tea-party as to the average width of the stripes on the male Zebra'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 103.

An Awful Mallard!

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Chemistry, Commerce, Measurement, Metrology, Religion, Religious Authority, Matter Theory


    Discusses an extract describing the French government's refusal to take base coin from Rome on the grounds that 'the inexorable logic of chemistry' has demonstrated that 'the Roman lira is only worth ninety-one centimes, and not a hundred'. Ironically siding with Pope Pius IX Pius IX, Pope (1792–1878) CBD
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, the writer argues that if 'the logic of Chemistry is inexorable, the logicians are excommunicable [...] Chemistry may also persevere in demonstrating that a given object is composed mainly of oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon—elementary substances. Chemistry be—anathema!'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 104.

Not Improbable

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L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>
Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Animal Development, Animal Behaviour, Education


    Shows a conversation between two bank clerks, one of whom, Gibbon, has rather simian features. The other clerk asks Gibbon whether he has seen the performing monkeys, to which he replies: 'Yes! By Jove, it's wonderful. I believe they'll get monkeys to talk and write soon'—thus implying that monkeys could do the work of bank clerks.



Punch,  58 (1870), 104.

Air-Poisoning v. Aire-Poisoning

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Pollution, Public Health, Crime


    Begins with an extract explaining a recent court case between the Attorney General, Robert P Collier Collier, Robert Porrett, 1st Baron Monkswell (1817–86) ODNB
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, and representatives of the Corporation of Leeds Corporation of Leeds
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, who were charged with polluting the River Aire. The poem questions the decision of the Vice-Chancellor of the Court of Chancery Court of Chancery
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, William M James James, Sir William Milbourne (1807–81) ODNB
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, to lay the defendants ''neath injunction, pointing out that 'If to poison the Air with Leeds smoke be trade's function, / Why shouldn't it poison the Aire with Leeds sewage'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 104.

Dangerous and Expensive "Freaks"

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Railways, Accidents, Causation


    Notes that a government inspector involved in awarding damages for injuries sustained during an accident on a line of the Great Northern Railway Company Great Northern Railway Company
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argued that some accidents to carriages were caused by '"freaks" which it was impossible to explain by scientific means'. Thinks that a 'more positive' cause of railway accidents is freaks of management.



Punch,  58 (1870), 105.

Latest Bulletin

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Religion, Homeopathy


Punch,  58 (1870), 106.

Our Own Mud in Our Own Mouths

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Industrial Chemistry, Commerce, Pollution, Nutrition


    Begins by describing how the rising prices of 'all sorts of oils and greases' has been caused by claims made by chemists that such raw materials can be turned into food. Believes another 'triumph of Chemistry' that surpasses the 'extraction of Champagne out of petroleum' is the transformation of Thames mud into butter. Thinks this will enable John Thwaites Thwaites, Sir John (1815–1870) ODNB
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to 'turning to account the hundreds of thousands of tons of sewage now poured weekly from the pumps at Abbey Mills Abbey Mills Pumping Station, Stratford
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'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 107.

Entomological Studies. Showing the Transformation of Three Different Kind of Lepidoptera, from the Larva R Aterpillar, into the Imago or Perfect Insect

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

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [6]

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:

Entomology, Animal Development, Human Development, Evolution


    Shows three pairs of scenes, each depicting how caterpillar-shaped humans suffer a dreary existence during the day, but enjoy an exciting life during the evening when they have developed into butterflies. The first pair shows a clerk turning into the 'Music-Hall Moth, or Nocturnal Cad-Fly', the second shows a workman turning into 'The Six-Footed Narcissus, or Scarlet Sesquipealian', and the third shows a girl suffering a tedious life reading and playing the piano becoming the 'Girl of the Period Butterfly (Puella rapiduta)'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 110.

Railway Economy

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Railways, Travel, Heat


    Laments the refusal of railway company directors to provide passengers with foot-warmers—a decision prompted by shareholders' fears that such a move would prove too expensive.



Punch,  58 (1870), 113.

Asclepius His Daughters

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Celsus Excelsior Excelsior, Celsus
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Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Gender, Medical Practitioners, Government


    The writer informs Mr Punch of a recent meeting at London in which Dr Drysdale Drysdale, Dr (fl. 1869) PU1/57/15/2
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spoke on 'Medicine as a Profession for Women' and urged ladies to petition the government to introduce a bill to allow women to gain a license to practice medicine. Notes Emily Faithfull's Faithfull, Emily (1835–95) ODNB
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argument that there should not be any opposition to this move as it would allow women to 'return to a work which was essentially womanly', and Elizabeth Garrett's Anderson (née Garrett), Elizabeth (1836–1917) ODNB
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warning that women must 'become proficient in the healing art' and 'devote many years to perseverance and study' before they can enter the medical profession. Points out that the need for 'perseverance and study' will prevent most women from entering the medical profession and thus preclude any need for opposition to the movement. However, the author argues that women should be encouraged to enter 'every secular profession' for which they may be qualified, including law, the army and chimney sweeping. Insists that 'Women are no more unfitted to practise medicine than they are to practise music. True we have no female HANDELS Händel, Georg Friedrich (1685–1759) ODNB
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, MOZARTS Mozart, (Johannes Chrysostom) Wolfgang Amadeus (1756–91) CBD
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, and BEETHOVENS Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770–1827) CBD
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. Neither are we likely to have a female HARVEY Harvey, William (1578–1657) DSB
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, HUNTER Hunter, John (1728–93) DSB
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, or ABERNETHY Abernethy, John (1764–1831) ODNB
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. Women do not originate things. But it is quite possible we may have a female SYDENHAM Sydenham, Thomas (1624–89) DSB
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, HALFORD Halford (formerly Vaughan), Sir Henry (1766–1844) ODNB
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, or even a female COOPER Cooper, Sir Astley Paston, 1st Baronet (1768–1841) ODNB
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'. Believes medical science might help 'leaven' women and thus end advertisements for corsets, 'low dresses in high life and high latitudes', death from bronchitis and consumption, and 'domestic quackery'. Points out that while the medical profession would be a 'resource' for a 'clever girl' who wishes to 'live single' and to have a 'soul' and 'body' of her own, it would not debar her from matrimony. On the contrary, such a woman would be attractive to a medical man, and to a non-medical man who wants advice about his illnesses.



Punch,  58 (1870), 113.

En Voila Bien Assez

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Industry, Sanitation, Education, Libraries, Religion, Commerce, Progress


    Introduces a long extract from an unspecified source, describing the great benefits enjoyed by workers in Joseph E Schneider's Schneider, Joseph Eugène (1805–75) WBI
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ironworks in Creusot. The extract praises its decent accommodation, gardens, streets, running water, free schools for children and adults, broad ranging educational curriculum (including languages and scientific subjects), nurseries for children, a well-stocked school library, two Catholic churches, facilities for Protestant worship, decent wages, a savings bank, and lower crime rates than average. Suggests that these facilities are better than those provided by 'the greatest and best-managed English iron-works'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 115.

Madmen and their Murderers

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Punch Punch
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Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Mental Illness, Hospitals, Crime


    Draws the attention of George H Whalley Whalley, George Hammond (1813–78) ODNB
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to the recent case of a patient in a lunatic asylum who was kneed, kicked, and knocked to death by his two 'keepers'. Urges that asylums and convents ought to be inspected 'as they ought to be, not at set and stated times, and by blind, owlish boards of guardians, but by paid, haphazard visitors, whose pay should be increased for every fault detected'.



^^ Back to the top of this issue

Punch,  58 (1870), 117.

"A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever"

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Zoology, Human Development


    Written from the perspective of a woman writing about her 'loved one', describes the behaviour of the 'social Zöophyte', a creature that lives ''neath of social waters, / 'Mid ocean's wildest cells', 'nestling' in 'the abysses / With fast and foolish whirl'. Notes that other men and women ignore him in their pursuit of 'faster swains', but that he moves slowly among them 'mute as a quiet fish', and is an 'April Fool'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 117.

St. Patrick's Mistake

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Philosophy, Religion, Comparative Philology, Natural History, Politics, Government


    Argues that the solution to the 'Irish problem' may lie in the work of Emanuel Swedenborg Swedenborg, Emanuel (1688–1772) DSB
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, who describes certain 'evil uses' or foul creatures (notably serpents and frogs) which can be used to 'injure man' but can help absorb 'malignities'. Explains that unfortunately St Patrick Patrick, Saint (373–463) ODNB
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killed off all the vipers in Ireland and thus removed one of the 'evil uses' which could remove such 'malignities' as 'Fenian journalists and sympathisers with Fenians', 'agrarian assassins, and incendiary priests'. Accordingly, thinks that the government should reintroduce adders, toads, and frogs into Ireland in sufficient numbers as to reduce the 'malignities'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 117.

Philosophy for Free Livers

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Nutrition, Philosophy, Health


    Explains some of the principal ideas presented in Caplin 1870 Caplin, Jean François Isidore 1870. The Philosophy of Rheumatism and Gout, and a New Method of Radically Curing Those Distressing Maladies, Without the Use of Internal Medicine, London: Trübner
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. Points out that the follower of the philosophy of rheumatism and gout enunciated in the book 'always walks about a great deal to equalise his circulation, and to work off in vapour the superfluities which a philosophical turn, generally combined with a predilection for good living, is apt to introduce into the bodily system'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 120.

Aggravating Flippancy

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

Anthropology, Societies, Gender


    Shows a husband and wife relaxing before a fire in their parlour. The wife combs her hair and asks her husband where he has been that night. He explains that he has 'spent a most instructive evening with the "Anthropological Society Anthropological Society of London
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"'—an organisation whose name and activities his wife misunderstands.



Punch,  58 (1870), [121].

The Three R's; or, Better Late then Never

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J T Tenniel, Sir John (1820–1914) 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 T Tenniel, Sir John (1820–1914) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Subjects:

Education, Mathematics, Government, Politics


    Shows William E Forster Forster, William Edward (1818–86) ODNB
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, chairman of the Board of Education Board of Education
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, sitting in a room before a group of children. Several clergymen and other officials stand or sit near him. He tells the children that having been 'gravely and earnestly considering whether [they] may learn to read' he is happy to tell them that 'subject to a variety of restrictions, conscience clauses, and the consent of your vestries—you may!'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 123.

Handy-Capping

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Miss Deane Deane, Miss
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Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) 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, Steam-power, Machinery


    The text is preceded by an illustration showing a tortoise escaping from a hare owing to a tricycle undercarriage and steam-powered body; a smoke-stack juts out from its shell.



Punch,  58 (1870), 123.

Irish Meteorology

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Meteorology, Gas Chemistry, Politics


    Suggests that there is 'some constant cause existing whose agency maintains the chronic disaffection of Ireland' and thinks it might be 'a predominance of O'ZONE'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 123.

Ecclesiastical Medicine

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Religious Authority, Medical Treatment


Punch,  58 (1870), 124.

Notice to Correspondents

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Anon

Genre:

Literary Notice, Drollery

Subjects:

Quackery, Medical Treatment, Religion, Charlatanry


    Points out that the recently published volume entitled Revelations of Quacks and Quackery Courtenay, Francis Burdett 1865. Revelations of Quacks and Quackery: A Series of Letters, by "Detector" reprinted from "The Medical Circular", London: Bailliere, Tindall and Cox
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'does not include Apocalyptic Sketches Cumming, John 1848. Apocalyptic Sketches; or, Lectures on the Book of Revelation: Delivered in the Large Room, Exeter Hall, in 1847–48, London: Hall & Co.
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by DR. CUMMING Cumming, John (1807–81) ODNB
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'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 125.

Safety Trains

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Railways, Accidents


    Denies reports that the train carrying Prince Edward Edward VII, King of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions Beyond the Seas, Emperor of India (1841–1910) ODNB
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and Princess Alexandra Alexandra [Princess Alexandra of Denmark]Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the British dominions beyond the seas, and Empress of India, consort of Edward VII (1844–1925) ODNB
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'narrowly escaped a collision' because 'proper precautions' are taken to ensure that this does not happen to the royal train. Suggests that it is 'liberal of Railway Companies not to charge ordinary passengers by Royal Trains extra for safety'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 127.

Corporeal Enlightenment

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Surgery, Light, Invention, Medical Treatment, Morality


    Discusses news that a Russian surgeon, Dr Milio Milio, Dr (surgeon) (fl. 1870) PU1/58/13/1
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, has invented a means of illuminating the interior of the body by electric light. Anticipates the moral and medical uses to which the instrument will be put, including the 'detection of ill feelings, and bad workings of the brain'. Believes that the diascope will reveal the 'black heart' of the criminal, the sham of the snob, and the deceit of the swindler.



Punch,  58 (1870), 129.

Mr. Punch's Latest Addition to the Last Book of Euclid Euclid (fl. 295 BC) DSB
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View full article text

L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>
Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Mathematics, Gender


    Shows a complex set of geometrical figures which together form a picture of a woman smoking a cigarette and propping herself up with a walking stick. The caption invites the reader to prove that several of the angles (notably those in the woman's narrow waist) are 'absurd'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 129.

Voting By Machinery

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Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Politics, Invention, Machinery


    Announces that a machine for 'facilitating vote by ballot' is now on show. Explains how the machine allows only one voter to enter an 'iron house' at a time, where the voter is presented with 'All the pros and cons for the different candidates' by machinery. The machine then hands him some money to pay for his vote and forces him to put his voting slip or 'pill' into the receptacle in which he has just been paid to put it. The voter is then 'taken out, by machinery, escapes the hands of an infuriated, or simply inquisitive mob, by machinery, goes home, by machinery, and spends his money like clockwork, and lives happily ever afterwards—by machinery'. Adds that on hearing news of this invention some 'Waxwork Gentlemen' residing in Madame Tussaud's Waxworks Madame Tussaud's Waxworks
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'applied to be admitted to the privilege of electors'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 133.

Surgeon-Dentist in St. Pancras

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Utilitarianism, Class, Disease, Medical Treatment


    Reports that the guardians of the St Pancras Poor Law Union St Pancras Poor Law Union
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propose to appoint a dentist to inspect the teeth of its Workhouse St Pancras Poor Law Union Workhouse
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paupers. Suggests that the 'grinders of the aged poor in the St Pancras Union will henceforth be in a great proportion artificial, and manufactured of porcelain', and points out that applications for the post should be submitted on April Fool's Day.



Punch,  58 (1870), 134.

Electric Diplomacy

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Electricity, Politics


Punch,  58 (1870), 135.

Scientific Notices. On and after April 1, 1870

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Annoucement, Spoof

Subjects:

Societies, Cell Biology, Physiology, Physical Chemistry, Botany, Breeding, Lecturing


    These notices include 'A Lecture on the use of Protoplasms (hot) in all cases of syncope and measles' to be given at the 'Royal Idiotic Institute', 'a Discourse on Abnormal Absorption in the Vacuum of Fermentation' to be held at 'Colwell Hatchney College' (Punch's parody of Colney Hatch Asylum Colney Hatch Asylum
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), and a lecture near the South Kensington Museum South Kensington Museum
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on 'Sea Botany, with Inquiries into the best mode of rearing Ocean Currants'. The latter announcement also contains the advice 'Don't come, if you don't like. Cakes, buns, and tea always hot. Lots of fun when everyone's gone. Ask for Professor S.: a shilling to the policeman will do the trick. Great larks. Bring your own candle'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 136.

Not a Puff, Really

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Nutrition, Invention, Domestic Economy


    Annouces the invention of 'the Norwegian Self-Acting Cooking Apparatus' which enables pap and gruel teas to be 'kept hot for an indefinite period' and nurses to nap instead of 'watching the hob'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 137.

A Benevolent Thought

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Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Gender, Pollution, Public Health


    Reports that Mrs Malaprop (a reference to the character in Richard B Sheridan's Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (1751–1816) ODNB
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play, The Rivals Sheridan, Richard Brinsley 1775. The Rivals: A Comedy, London: John Wilkes
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) has responded to news that women can act as commissioners of sewers with the comment that 'she knows a great many poor seamstresses who would be very glad if ladies could give them work at better wages than they are now earning'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 139.

Indiscriminate Humanity

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Cruelty, Animal Behaviour


    Reports that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
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has stopped the 'Islington Bull-fighters' from carrying out their activities. Hopes that the society can also curtail the Gun Club Gun Club
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.



Punch,  58 (1870), 144–45.

The Historical Manuscripts Commission Historical Manuscripts Commission
Close   View the register entry >>

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Extract, Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Chemistry, Military Technology


    Describes some of the manuscripts collected by this commission, including 'A complete series of the great Lord Chatham's Pitt, William, first Earl of Chatham ('Pitt the Elder') (1708–78) ODNB
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washing bills, extending from 1769 to 1776', and 'the report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire unto the chemical composition of the matches found on the person of GUIDO FAWKES Fawkes, Guy (1570–1606) ODNB
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, signed by the Chairman, ROGER BACON Bacon, Roger (c. 1219–c. 1292) DSB
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' (144).



Punch,  58 (1870), 145.

The Fourth R" Question Composed

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Jeremiah Bumps Bumps, Jeremiah
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Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Education, Politics, Crime, Mental Illness, Neurology, Physiognomy, Phrenology, Human Development, Reading, Religion, Morality, Music


    Discusses the ways in which the case of William Mobbs Mobbs, William (1849/50–1870) PU1/58/14/4The Times, 14 March 1870, p. 11d
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, an agricultural labourer hung for murder, bears upon the question of a fourth R to be established after the standard three Rs of reading, writing, and arithmetic. Emphasises that the Illustrated Police News Illustrated Police News (1864–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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description of Mobbs (with a 'short, narrow forehead and small head, and great thickness about the base of the skull') shows that he was a 'brutal idiotic type'. Insisting that 'whatever may be thought' about the 'reality' of phrenological organs, 'it is undeniable that their names express mental realities' and are handy for 'talking about the mind and its dispositions'. Accordingly describes how Mobbs's faculty of 'Language' had been developed so as to enable him to read, but his education in 'Individuality' and 'Eventuality' had been through reading 'tales of murder', which had in turn developed his 'Destructiveness'. Emphasizes that the three Rs may have given Mobbs the powers of 'Construtiveness', 'Form', 'Size', and 'Number', but these would have made 'no difference' to 'his self-culture of "Self-Destructiveness"'. Argues that Mobbs lacked the fourth R—religion—which cultivates and strengthens those sentiments (including 'Veneration', 'Marvellousness', 'Hope', and 'Benevolence') which differentiate man from the gorilla, the pig, and other beasts. Assesses the claim of John Russell (1st Earl Russell) Russell, Lord John, 1st Earl Russell (1792–1878) ODNB
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that hymn-singing in schools will be sufficient for this task and wonders whether rate-payers would be willing to pay for 'the needful organ and organist' to teach religious sentiments. Concludes by suggesting that the fourth R could be taught 'through the faculties of "Time" and "Tune"'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 145.

Not Improbable

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Gender, Medical Practitioners


Punch,  58 (1870), 146.

Studies at the Zoological Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
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  [1/2]George L P B Du Maurier, 'Studies at the Zoological Gardens', Punch, 58 (1870), 166

Close

View full article text

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

Illustration, Drollery, Serial

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [4]

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
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Subjects:

Zoological Gardens, Animal Behaviour, Zoology


    Represents some of strange behaviour of animals at the Zoological Society Gardens. These include a 'Terrific Encounter in the Aquarium between the Lobster and the Jack', an ostrich having its head locked into a hole at night because it is so used to hiding it in the sand during the day, an elephant with a trumpet bell on the end of its trunk (a 'Study of the Elephant in the Act of "Trumpetting"'), and a pig and an elephant, 'distant blood relations', 'turning up their noses at each other'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 147.

Io Pæan!

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Anon

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Quackery

People mentioned:

James Morison Morison, James (1770–1840) ODNB
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Punch,  58 (1870), 149.

Mediumship, Home and Foreign

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Religion, Heat, Miracle


    Discusses a report in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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that Palma, an Italian 'Estatica' or 'medium', has announced that Nicholas P S Wiseman Wiseman, Nicholas Patrick Stephen (1802–65) ODNB
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has come out of purgatory. Wonders whether this suggests that the papal authorities recognise the mediumship of Palma but not that of Daniel D Home Home, Daniel Dunglas (1833–86) ODNB
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, whom they banished from Rome for being a sorcerer. Playing on the word 'palm', describes some of the spiritualistic feats performed by Home using his palms, notably his handling of hot coals. Suggests that Home 'might be conceived to be able to handle fire himself, however, by means no more occult than a sort of chemical palmistry, but anyhow surpasses anything that we have heard of PALMA'. Describes Home's apparent ability ot elongate his body but warns 'Never believe half of what you hear'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 154.

De Lunatico Confrigendo

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Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Mental Illness, Politics


Punch,  58 (1870), 155.

To Mrs. Professor Fawcett Fawcett, Dame Millicent Garrett (1847–1929) ODNB
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View full article text

Punch Punch
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Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Gender, Politics, Domestic Economy, Human Development, Animal Behaviour


    Discussing Fawcett's recent lectures on the 'Electoral Disabilities of Women' (a version of which was published as Fawcett 1872 Fawcett, Millicent 1872. Electoral Disabilities of Women, London: Trübner & Co.
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), the writer attacks her criticism of the separate spheres of action of men and women. Insists that 'in parcelling life into two great fields, the one inside, the other outside the house-doors, and in creating two beings so distinct in body, mind, and affections as man and women, the Framer of the Universe must have meant the two for different functions'. Insists that 'a similar distinction runs through the whole animal kingdom' and that 'so long as the masculine creature keeps aloof from the domain of the feminine, and leaves to her the nursing and rearing and training of the family, and the ordering and gracing of the home, there lies a tremendously strong presumption against the wisdom of the feminine entry on the masculine domain of business and politics'. Concludes by considering the enfranchisement of women, arguing, 'if Nature had meant you for the franchise, you would have had it long ago'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 159.

The Invalid Author

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

Gender, Medical Practitioners, Reading


    Shows a sickroom in which a man lies in bed and is attended by his wife. At the foot of the bed, a nurse is seen engrossed in a book. The wife asks who gave the book to the nurse and the husband replies that he did, which prompts his wife to chastise him, since he 'knew how important it is that she [the nurse] shouldn't go to sleep!'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 160.

A Woman's Rights and Wrongs

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Gender, Education, Universities, Chemistry, Controversy


    Begins by insisting that 'Whatever we may think of the ladies' claims to electoral privileges, there can be no question as to their full right to the spoils of victory when they face our selfish sex in fair fight, and beat us'. Proceeds to describe the case of Mary E Peachey Peachey, Mary E (fl. 1870) PU1/58/16/2
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who was one of the top four chemistry students and scholarship winners at the University of Edinburgh University of Edinburgh
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. Notes that her claims have been resisted by the chemistry professor Alexander C Brown Brown, Alexander Crum (1838–1922) ODNB
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and by the university itself, who emphasise that since Peachey was taught in a separate class she is not entitled to the scholarship. Relishes the fact that Titus Salt Salt, Sir Titus (1803–76) ODNB
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has complained to The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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about this case and has proposed starting a fund to support Peachey.



Punch,  58 (1870), 160.

Art-Culture for Criminals

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Anon

Genre:

Drama, Drollery

Subjects:

Crime, Photography


Punch,  58 (1870), 160.

Spots on the Sun

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Military Technology, Crime, Government


Punch,  58 (1870), 166.

Studies at the Zoological Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >>
  [2/2]George L P B Du Maurier, 'Studies at the Zoological Gardens', Punch, 58 (1870), 146

Close

View full article text

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 >>

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery, Serial

Relevant illustrations:

wdct. [6]

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:

Zoological Gardens, Animal Behaviour, Zoology


    Shows the strange behaviour and feature of some animals at the Zoological Society Gardens. These include the 'Raked-Shovel-Mouthed Wild Boar' (shown with a shovel for a snout), two kiwis sitting on a large egg (the egg is so large that 'it takes two kiwis to hatch it'), and four illustrations of a hedgehog stealing an apple.



Punch,  58 (1870), 167.

"I Would I Were a Bird—"

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L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>
Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Human Development, Ornithology, Anatomy, Animal Behaviour


    Shows a woman profusely clad in bird's feathers strolling along a pier.



Punch,  58 (1870), 168.

Horses and their Torturers

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Societies, Display, Geology, Animal Behaviour, Cruelty


    Notes that at a recent meeting of the Royal Society Royal Society of London
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there was a display of the sharp granite pieces used in mending London streets. Considers these to be 'Instruments of Horse-Torture in the Nineteenth-Century'. Hopes that the next meeting of the society will include a display of 'a fragment of the heart of a Vestryman', which is hard enough to allow horses to traverse hard granite streets. Also hopes this will lead to the indictment of vestrymen for their cruelty.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 171.

Farewell to the New Forest

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An Old Badger Old Badger, An
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Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Environmentalism, Industry, Pollution, Human Development, Progress


    Responding to proposals to enclose the New Forest, Hampshire New Forest, Hampshire
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, the poet expresses the hope that he will die before mammon reigns 'sole master' and the 'Flowers and verdure all have fled'. Believes the 'blithe and blooming' land of 'Merry England' is fast becoming a 'Land of Philistines' with 'factory chimneys' and model farms. Thinks that if advocates of the enclosure were turned into 'forms of sordid swine' they would appreciate 'that Hampshire forest fair'. Wonders whether 'Business men of pudding head' have pondered William Shakespeare's Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) ODNB
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value, and laments that 'drear and sooty' England will no longer be able to grow 'a race of nobler men'. Concludes with further morose reflections on the ill-effects of 'a great progressive nation' on the woodlands.



Punch,  58 (1870), 171.

"The Earth Hath Bubbles as the Water Has"

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Zoology, Breeding, Animal Development, Animal Behaviour, Menageries


    Discusses a Daily Telegraph Daily Telegraph (1856–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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article on the appearance of an alligator in the River Thames. Anticipates other exotic aquatic phenomena including a hippopotamus, crocodile, sharks, whales, swordfish, dolphins, and sea-serpents. Points out that the alligator had escaped from a menagerie and turned out to be a 'gentle lizard'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 171.

All Cleared Up

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Vaccination, Human Development


    Claims that 'MRS. CHITTERBY says she knows all about the Spots on the Son, for her little CHARLEY has just been vaccinated, and is doing beautifully'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 171.

A Name of Ill Omen

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Disease, Medical Treatment, Language


Punch,  58 (1870), 175.

A Live Sea-Serpent

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Hunting, Zoology, Animal Behaviour, Specimen Trading, Evolution, Animal Development, Darwinism


    Presents an extract concerning the discovery by a waterman of an alligator in the River Thames. The creature was taken to the specimen trader, Johann C C Jamrach Jamrach, Johann Christian Carl (1815–91) ODNB
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, who was told by a police constable that he had no right to detain it. Punch thinks it idle to inquire how the alligator crossed the Atlantic or to 'speculate on the probability that it escaped from some vessel importing it for MR. JAMRACH, or for the Zoological Society Zoological Society of London
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'. Speculates that the alligator might be 'a development of a water-eft [a form of newt]', arguing that if Charles R Darwin's Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
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'theory is right, the wonder is that we do not rather frequently find such a small novelty turn up as that of an alligator in the Thames'. Finally suggests that it may have developed from 'the inner-consciousness of an unusually imaginative penny-a-liner'. Finally reveals that the creature was a lacert (lizard) that had escaped from Jamrach's collection.



Punch,  58 (1870), 177.

A Pretty Little Donkey in a Lion's Skin

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L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>
Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Amusement, Zoology


    Shows a woman wearing a female lion's head as a headress. The caption suggests that this is a 'Grand Sensation for Tawny-Haired Beauties'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 179–80.

Punch's Essence of Parliament

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Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Invention, Controversy


    Notes the 'quarrel' over the dismissal of Edward M Boxer Boxer, Edward Mourrier (1822–98) WBI
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(formerly of the laboratory at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich Royal Arsenal, Woolwich
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), which ended with the 'ventilation of the alleged wrong done to a gentleman whose military inventions have been valuable' (181).



Punch,  58 (1870), 185.

Is Tight-Lacing Injurious?

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Anon

Genre:

Drama, Drollery

Subjects:

Gender, Amusement, Health, Disease, Medical Practitioners


    Describes a meeting of 'fine ladies' at 'Phillis's Rooms' to discuss the alleged injurious effects of tight-lacing. Most of the ladies are passionate advocates of tight-lacing and would rather have tight waists than follow their doctor's advice. Miss Lovelace, for example, claims that tight-lacing has given her headaches and fainting fits although she discarded her doctor's warnings and 'obeyed her dressmaker'. Miss Gasper asks what doctors could know about tight-lacing given that they do not wear tight stays, while Mrs Bonpoint, whose doctor had warned her that tight-lacing produced a 'fatty something of the heart which often had proved fatal', says that she 'would rather die a martyr than dress out of the fashion'—a remark that is met with applause. Other women complain of the effects of the fashion on the complexion and the appetite, while still others complain that it makes horse-riding and waltzing difficult.



Punch,  58 (1870), 186.

Hard Work for Hoofs

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Transport, Engineering, Cultural Geography, Nationalism, Cruelty, Government


    Condemns the state of the roads in England and in particular in London. Noting that these roads are composed of 'shingle and broken granite', contrasts this situation with that in France where, according to a report in the Chamber of Agriculture Journal Chamber of Agriculture Journal and Farmer's Chronicle (1868–81) Waterloo Directory
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, roads are free from mud in the winter and dust in summer and horses are not forced to grind down the broken stone used in roads. Believes that if 'foreigners' had the same standard of roads as the English they would 'curse the Government' instead of Bumbles (a reference to the parish beadle in Charles J H Dickens's Dickens, Charles John Huffam (1812–70) ODNB
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Oliver Twist [Dickens, Charles John Huffam] 1838. Oliver Twist; or, The Parish Boy's Progress, 3 vols, London: Richard Bentley
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). Asks why Bumbles do not 'send steam-rollers about their highways to crush the granite, flints, and pebbles with which they pave them, into soft powder'; but this would require a rise in the rates. Suggests that keepers of horses and carriages could pay a 'horse and carriage rate' for smoothing roads.



Punch,  58 (1870), 188.

A Few Predictions

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Hospitals, Public Health, Education, Government, Futurism


    A list of predictions including, 'Somebody will live to see Christ's Hospital Christ's Hospital
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removed into the country', 'Somebody will live to see the streets of London properly cleansed', and 'Somebody will live to see every child in the land educated'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 189.

King Maw or Another?

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Anon

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Progress, Electricity, Steam-power, Commerce, Religion


Punch,  58 (1870), 189.

Sadducismus Triumphans

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Superstition, Crime, Spiritualism


Punch,  58 (1870), 190–91.

Punch's Essence of Parliament

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Gender, Politics, Government


    Notes Lyon Playfair's Playfair, Sir Lyon, 1st Baron Playfair of St Andrews (1818–98) DSB
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support for a bill to extend the franchise to women, and believes that 'as a philosopher' he knows 'what women are made of' (190).



Punch,  58 (1870), 192.

The Professoress's Prophecy

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Anon

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Gender, Politics, Government, Human Development, Evolution, Darwinism


    Responding to the recent parliamentary debate on John Bright's Bright, John (1811–89) ODNB
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bill to remove the 'Electoral Disabilities of Women', this poem describes the thoughts of a 'strong-minded Fair-One' who sat in the gallery of the House of Commons House of Commons
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. She remarks that although women must sit 'like caged birds' in the 'ladies' pen [...] Our fate is fore-cast, by Darwinian selection— / To the floor of the Commons to rise from the pen! / When once we are "Ladies" confessed "of Election"— / Pretty "Lords of Creation" you'll be, you poor men!'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 192.

A "Noiseless Sewing Machine"

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Gender, Domestic Economy, Machinery


    'A Good Wife'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 202, 205.

Punch's Essence of Parliament

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Progress, Education, Gender


    Notes an observation by Spencer C Cavendish (Marquess of Hartington) Cavendish, Spencer Compton, 8th Duke of Devonshire (formerly styled 'Marquess of Hartington') (1833–1908) ODNB
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that the 'Telegraph System is being extended as rapidly as possible', and indicates that the 'difficulty seems to be the stupidity of the telegraphist staff'—a problem that is diminishing. Asks why more women are not 'almost exclusively employed in work which they could do so adroitly'. (205)



Punch,  58 (1870), 206.

What We Must Expect if Any More Alligators Get Loose in the Thames

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L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

L S Sambourne, Edwin Linley (1844–1910) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>
Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Hunting, Zoology, Accidents


    Shows two fishermen on a barge, one of whom has caught a small alligator on the end of his line. This refers to a recent report that an alligator had been found in the River Thames.



Punch,  58 (1870), 207.

An Afternoon Tea (A Fragment)

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Dialogue, Spoof

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Quackery, Gender


    Describes a conversation about Dr Smoothman between several ladies who praise his charming manner. The husband of one of the ladies, however, had just seen the doctor's bill for a year's attendance and interjects to complain that the doctor is a quack.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 209.

Dramatic Origin of Species

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Amusement, Degeneration, Human Development, Darwinism


    Rebutts the complaint made by John B Buckstone Buckstone, John Baldwin (1802–79) ODNB
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that William Shakespeare's Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) ODNB
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plays are not performed frequently enough in London theatres, urging that the 'play-going portion of the British Public are in a transition state, reverting, if the Darwinian Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
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theory of development is true, degenerating whether or not, to the level of apes'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 211.

A Charity for Girls of Fashion

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Hospitals, Human Development, Medical Treatment, Disease


    Discusses a recent speech made by the chairman of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Royal Orthopoedic Hospital
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, who discussed the number of patients attending the hospital since its foundation thirty years earlier. Puzzled by the name of the hospital, which suggests that its beneficence is limited to children, the writer suggests that if it opens its doors to adults with such afflictions as club foot then it would benefit from patients who could pay for their accommodation and treatment. Notes the fee commanded by Parisian physicians for treating feet injured by the wearing of high-heeled boots and shoes, and warns that a similar fashion in London for wearing high-heeled footwear will turn feet into 'the semblance of a neat's tongue' and thus require attention at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.



Punch,  58 (1870), 211.

A Query with an Answer

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Language, Medical Treatment, Physiology


Punch,  58 (1870), 212.

Our Pert Contributor

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Human Development, Heat, Gender, Magnetism


    A series of droll observations. For example: 'Cold women are often very attractive. FARADAY Faraday, Michael (1791–1867) DSB
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showed why this is. He proved that magnetic power increased with reduction of temperature'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 215.

A New History of Inventions  [1/3]Anon, 'A New History of Inventions', Punch, 58 (1870), 237
Anon, 'A New History of Inventions', Punch, 59 (1870), 116

Close

View full article text

Anon

Genre:

Essay, Drollery, Serial

Subjects:

Scientific Practitioners, Discovery, Astronomy, Instruments, Time, Measurement, Medical Treatment, Controversy, Religion, Progress


    A series of accounts of the invention and discovery of common domestic objects, including the dining-table, the reformed calendar, and the umbrella. Claims that the dining table was invented by Galileo Galilei Galilei, Galileo (1564–1642) DSB
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. When 'Science was yet in its cradle, philosophy still in its perambulator' and before the age of 'egg-boilers', 'sewing-machines', and 'asparagus tongs', Galileo 'withdrew from the world about the time that COPERNICUS Copernicus, Nicholas (1473–1543) DSB
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discovered Night Lights', to 'a humble cottage near Amsterdam'. There he contemplated 'the deep problem which had turned KEPLER Kepler, Johannes (1571–1630) DSB
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white, prematurely aged TYCHO BRAHE Brahe, Tycho (1546–1601) DSB
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, and wrinkled, untimely, the capacious brow and benevolent form of our own NEWTON Newton, Sir Isaac (1642–1727) DSB
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'. In his 'tapestried chamber', dressed in 'his Oriental dressing-gown and Eastern slippers', Galileo paced his apartment 'with eager, restless steps'. Early one morning after spending a night handling 'Plans, diagrams, calculations, sketches, models', he emerged into the 'unpeopled streets' with the cry of 'Ευρηκα! Ευρηκα! [Eureka! Eureka!]' and imparted to a cabinet-maker 'his immortal invention of the telescope—dining-table'. Proceeds to describe Pope Gregory XIII's Gregory XIII, Ugo Buoncompagni, Pope (1502–85) CBD
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'Reformation of the Calendar' and his invention of 'Gregory's Powder'—a substance 'first compounded by his private physician in the Baths of DIOGENES towards the close of the proceedings'. Also describes the controversy among antiquaries over the date when the umbrella was first introduced into 'this damp climate'. Notes that 'that great Batvian scholar' and fellow of the Royal Society Royal Society of London
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, Wetstein, has challenged Waterland's notion that it was introduced during Oliver Cromwell's Cromwell, Oliver (1599–1658) ODNB
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protectorate, insisting that the umbrella first appeared during the reign of King Charles II Charles II, King of England, Scotland and Ireland (1630–85) ODNB
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who 'set the fashion of using an umbrella, as a protection both against sun and rain'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 217.

Mental Athletic Sports

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Anon

Genre:

Announcement, Spoof

Subjects:

Societies, Geology, Physiology, Scientific Practitioners


    Announces a recent meeting of the 'Intellectual Gymnasts, a Society principally consisting of Geologists, and Physiological Philosophers', many of whom 'exhibited the most wonderful capacity of jumping at conclusions'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 218.

Geology

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C K Keene, Charles Samuel (1823–91) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

C K Keene, Charles Samuel (1823–91) ODNB
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Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
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Subjects:

Geology, Palaeontology, Scientific Practitioners, Class


    Shows a bespectacled 'Scientific Pedestrian' standing before a sweating north of England 'Excavator' who stands, pick axe in hand, in a shallow hole. Responding to the scientist's question whether he had found any fossils, the excavator remarks: 'Dunno what you calls "vossuls". We finds nowt here but muck and 'ard work!'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 218.

A.B.C. "With a Difference"

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Anon

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Taxonomy, Animal Development, Human Development, Evolution


    Presents Mr Punch's criticism of 'the fashionable A.B.C. Dispatch Box' and notes Mr Punch's suggestion that the invention could be improved by dividing the box into types of humans rather than alphabetically. Mr Punch's classification system includes such categories as 'Asses', 'Bores', 'Gladstone Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) ODNB
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', 'Nobodies', 'Ungrateful brutes', and 'Zoophytes (mankind generally)'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 220.

To Our Calculating Boys

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Anon

Genre:

Notes

Subjects:

Astronomy, Heat, Light, Energy, Mechanics, Utilitarianism, Class


    Begins with a report describing the time period during which the heat generated by the impact of Mercury and Jupiter on the sun would 'cover the solar emission'. Suggests that those who enjoy this calculation will also like to calculate 'what amount of enlightenment' and 'increase in heat of their debaters' would be caused by smartly knocking together the 'heads of dense body', such as poor-law guardians.



Punch,  58 (1870), 220.

Galvanism and Gammon

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Electricity, Physiology, Commerce


    Thinks a 'Galvanic Band Manufacturer's' claim that 'Electricity is Life' is '"shocking" nonsense'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 227.

Columbus Columbus, Christopher (1451–1506) CBD
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in the Calendar

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Exploration, Physical Geography, Discovery, Religious Authority, Heroism


    Discusses a North German Correspondent North German Correspondent (1869–70) German Correspondent (1871–72) BUCOP
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article on the likelihood of Columbus being beatified as a saint. Believes the need to establish that Columbus did perform a miracle is amply supplied by his discovery of America.



Punch,  58 (1870), 228.

Tempora Mutantur (Apropos of the University Tests Bill)

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Anon

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Universities, Religion, Dissent, Secularism, Politics, Controversy


    Describes the dispute between various leading statesmen over the bill to abolish religious tests for students entering Oxford University of Oxford
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and Cambridge University of Cambridge
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universities. Notes that 'Twixt Dissenters on one side, the POPE Pius IX, Pope (1792–1878) CBD
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on the other, / And HUXLEY Huxley, Thomas Henry (1825–95) DSB
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, who Faith under Science would Smother; / With her tests torn away, and her orders made delible, / Sequestrations unlawful and livings not sellable; / Her King Storks thrust on one side, to raise her King Logs, / The old Church of England is gone to the dogs'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 230.

Hints for Conversation (Derby Day)

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Amusement, Animal Behaviour, Astronomy, Light

Institutions mentioned:

Zoological Society Zoological Society of London
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Punch,  58 (1870), 230.

To Your Posts! My Public

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Technology, Instruments, Crime, Morality


    Notes Frank I Scudamore's Scudamore, Frank Ives (1823–84) ODNB
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appeal to 'all sensible people' to protect telegraphic apparatus from 'idiot boys' who make 'cockshies of the insulators'. Believes there is no more legitimate 'postage duty' (the General Post Office General Post Office
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being in control of all land telegraphs) than dealing with such individuals.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 231.

Blackheath and the Board of Works

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Environmentalism, Politics

Institutions mentioned:

Metropolitan Board of Works Metropolitan Board of Works
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Punch,  58 (1870), 232–33.

Punch's Essence of Parliament

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Anon

Genre:

Regular Feature, Proceedings, Drollery

Subjects:

Hunting, Cruelty, Nutrition, Adulteration, Government, Politics


    Notes the debate over the abolition of the game laws and the withdrawal of the adulteration of food bill. On the latter issue, Punch wonders why 'artisans do not take it up' because it 'affects them almost exclusively', and notes that Lord Eustace B H G Cecil Cecil, Lord Eustace Brownlow Henry Gascoyne-, (1834–1921) WBI
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and other statesmen 'adduced cases' of adulteration that would 'almost make the imperturbable Mr. Punch indignant' (232).



Punch,  58 (1870), 233.

An Advance

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Pollution, Industry, Industrial Chemistry, Commerce


    Notes the existence of 'an A.B.C. Company for utilising sewage by solidification' (for which William Crookes Crookes, Sir William (1832–1919) DSB ODNB
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is a consultant director). Pleased to see 'a Company for this purpose that has got as far as the first three letters of the Alphabet', because no such firm has succeeded in 'making its mark'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 234.

Wholesale Tobacco-Stoppers

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Narcotics, Disease, Mental Illness, Freethought


    Discusses extracts from a report of the annual meeting of the British Anti-Tobacco Society British Anti-Tobacco Society
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. Challenges the claim that smokers are irreligious and 'generally tipplers'. Ridicules the notion, attested by doctors, that smoking is responsible for 'The great majority of diseases afflicting mankind'. Concludes by berating the society for its gross generalisations.



Punch,  58 (1870), 237.

A New History of Inventions  [2/3]Anon, 'A New History of Inventions', Punch, 58 (1870), 215
Anon, 'A New History of Inventions', Punch, 59 (1870), 116

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Anon

Genre:

Essay, Drollery, Serial

Subjects:

Domestic Economy, Invention, Discovery, Steam-power, Nationalism


    Offers an eccentric account of the invention of scissors. Notes that Flavius Josephus Josephus, Flavius (c. 37–c. 100) CBD
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claimed that 'many centuries came and went after the needle had penetrated domestic life' and that '"the glittering forfex", like the discovery of steam, and printing, and portable soup, and pomatum, has been claimed by various nations, many eras, and different individuals', although it is difficult to determine 'with any approach to mathematical accuracy' who deserves 'a niche in the Temple of Fame'. Punningly identifies many English candidates for the title of the inventor of scissors, including Richard Steele Steele, Sir Richard (1672–1729) ODNB
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and John B Holroyd (1st Earl of Sheffield) Holroyd, John Baker, 1st Earl of Sheffield (1741–1821) ODNB
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.



Punch,  58 (1870), 238.

A Great and Good Painter

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Cruelty, Animal Behaviour

Institutions mentioned:

Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
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Punch,  58 (1870), 239.

Wonderful Vitality of Vegetable Life

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Botanical Gardens, Botany, Horticulture


    Begins with an extract describing the Royal Botanic Society of London's Royal Botanic Society of London
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annual exhibition of plants, flowers, fruit, and works of art. Praises the society for its display, but wishes to know its 'secret' method for 'preserving flowers and fruit fresh and good for so many weeks'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 239.

Anything Green in Blackheath?

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Environmentalism, Politics

Institutions mentioned:

Metropolitan Board of Works Metropolitan Board of Works
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Punch,  58 (1870), 240.

Signs of the Times

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Anon

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Progress, Superstition, Supernaturalism, Alchemy, Astrology, Religion, Astronomy, Scientific Practitioners, Cell Biology, Physiology, Education, Nationalism, Gender, Politics, Political Economy, Commerce, Government, Spiritualism, Imposture, Charlatanry


    Begins by comparing present with past wisdom. Insists that, unlike our ancestors, we no longer believe in witches, warlocks, 'ghosts that whipped through key-holes, and their spirits that laughed at door-locks', exorcists, the 'miracle-mongering monk', 'alchemy, transmutation, and astrology'. Claims, 'We don't say "Stop!" to Science, when it contradicts theology: / And HUXLEY Huxley, Thomas Henry (1825–95) DSB
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has no need to fear BRUNO'S Bruno, Giordano (1548–1600) DSB
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fate, or GALILEO'S Galilei, Galileo (1564–1642) DSB
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, / And primary cells and nerve-force veneramur sicut Deos'. Notes how we 'esteem the march of mind', in particular 'a talisman called "Competitive Examination"', / To draw the collective wisdom to the service of the nation'. Identifies other signs of progress, including men's hostility to women 'for doing away with the differences of sex, and its [electoral] disabilities', the conflicts between 'Labour' and 'Capital' and 'matter with mind', and the fact that self-government and centralization have neutralized each other leaving both 'in stagnation'. Describes the phenomena of modern spiritualism, including Daniel D Home's Home, Daniel Dunglas (1833–86) ODNB
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ability to float and handle hot coals, and the spiritualist healer F L Newton Newton, Dr F L (1810–83) Fodor 1934
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'out-Homing HOME' with his spiritualist healing practices. Concludes by suggesting that 'for all our march of intellect, and our monarchy of mind' there are more gullible audiences for imposture than impostors: 'There's never a Reynard the Fox, but he draws his tail of fools behind; / And there's never a quack that quacks, but he finds green geese to echo his quacking'.



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Punch,  58 (1870), 243.

Mysterious Callings

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Industry, Manufactories, Commerce, Zoological Gardens, Aeronautics, Cruelty


    Baffled by a list of strange trades recently published in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
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the writer offers his own interpretations of what they involve. For example, 'Zebra Dress Manufacturers' prompts the remark that 'On application at the Zoological Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
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we learn that there is no demand there for articles of clothing of this description. Perhaps animals confined in travelling menageries may require them'. Believes the existence of 'Flyer Makers' will delight the Royal Aeronautical Society Royal Aeronautical Society
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, while 'Woolley Teeth Makers' is apparently being investigated by 'A Committee of Dentists'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 243.

An American Newton

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Mesmerism, Photography, Representation, Charlatanry, Magnetism, Medical Treatment, Quackery


    Begins by introducing F L Newton Newton, Dr F L (1810–83) Fodor 1934
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as an American 'medical thaumaturge and spiritualistic mesmeriser' and 'healing medium'. Notes from an advertisement in the Medium and Daybreak Medium and Daybreak (1870–95) Waterloo Directory
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that Newton sells 'magnetised' portraits of himself, the proceeds from which go towards promoting spiritualism in England rather than to Newton himself. Believes Newton's portraits are 'just as efficacious in the cure of any disease as his mesmeric passes are' and that it is better for 'any sufferer' to purchase a portrait than 'universal pills, or any other description of quack medicine' because even 'the sceptic must admit that he would rather look at a photograph than swallow a pill'. Speculates whether Newton magnetizes his portraits, pointing out that according to his followers 'he heals the sick like winking'. Suggests that it is sufficient for Newton to think of his patients 'and at the same time outstretching the fingers of one hand, whilst the thumb is applied to the tip of his nose'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 243.

Prize Translations. (By Our Own Dunce)

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Ornithology, Language


Punch,  58 (1870), 248.

Songbirds of Beauty

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Ornithology, Taxonomy, Nomenclature, Music


Punch,  58 (1870), 250.

The Cruelty of Field Sports

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Anon

Genre:

Notes

Subjects:

Hunting, Cruelty


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Punch,  58 (1870), 251.

A Russian Apicius

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Anon

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Scientific Practitioners, Genius, Nutrition

People mentioned:

Isaac Newton, Newton, Sir Isaac (1642–1727) DSB
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Humphry Davy, Davy, Sir Humphry, Baronet (1778–1829) DSB ODNB
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Michael Faraday, Faraday, Michael (1791–1867) DSB
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Galileo Galilei, Galilei, Galileo (1564–1642) DSB
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George L Leclerc, comte de Buffon Buffon, Georges-Louis Leclerc, comte de (1707–88) DSB
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Punch,  58 (1870), 251.

A Lame Conclusion

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Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Hospitals, Disease


     'A MEMBER of the Junior Swellton has likened the Reform Club Reform Club
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to the Orthopædic Hospital Royal Orthopoedic Hospital
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, on the ground that it is chiefly open to reform club feet'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 253.

South Kensington to Wit

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Anon

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Horticulture, Botany

People mentioned:

J W Waterer Waterer, J W (b. 1848) WBI
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Institutions mentioned:

Royal Horticultural Society Royal Horticultural Society
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Punch,  58 (1870), 257.

[Astronomers the Sun's Friends]

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Anon

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Scientific Practitioners


    Claims that 'Astronomers are the Sun's "good-natured friends". They are never tired of talking about him, and pointing out his black spots'.



Punch,  58 (1870), 258.

Zoological Philosophy

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Obadiah Crowfoot Crowfoot, Obadiah
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Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Ornithology, Zoological Gardens, Animal Behaviour


    The writer tells Mr Punch of his interest in two birds recently added to the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
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. Notes that naturalists have explained how the 'male bird breaks open the bark of the tree within which lies hid the grub on which they feed; and the female pulls out the worm and presents her mate with half the meal'. Notes the similarity between the behaviour of these birds and that of ducks.



Punch,  58 (1870), 258.

To Well-Informed Piscatorials

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Anon

Genre:

Catechism, Drollery

Subjects:

Zoology, Animal Behaviour, Taxonomy


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