Genre:

Notes

Subjects:

Scientific Practitioners

People mentioned:

Benjamin Franklin, Franklin, Benjamin (1706–90) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Joseph Priestley, Priestley, Joseph (1733–1804) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Georges Cuvier, Cuvier, Georges (1769–1832) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Auguste Comte Comte, Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier (Auguste) (1798–1857) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Exploration, Military Technology, Futurism, Geology, Extra-Terrestrial Life

    Describes how in 1882, a 'MR ACTA AIRY, son of George B Airy Airy, Sir George Biddell (1801–92) DSB ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, travelled to Mercury in a shell discharged from an Armstrong Armstrong, Sir William George, Baron Armstrong of Cragside (1810–1900) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> gun, and found that the planet is not 'exceedingly hot' as expected, but is a 'lump of green ice', which escapes solar rays and is inhabited by owls who speak 'a language reminiscent of Welsh'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Exploration, Futurism, Transport, Mineralogy, Cultural Geography, Extra-Terrestrial Life, Mathematics, Human Development

    Introduces Venus as a planet 'composed of ivory of the finest quality' and which was visited by Sir Buffalo Humpe in 1900 in his aerial ship. Describes the exotic minerals found on the planet and the exotic customs of the 'Lilliputian' inhabitants, including the fact that 'once a-year they stand on their heads for forty-eight hours together in honour of Quadratic Equations'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Exploration, Futurism, Evolution, Animal Development, Darwinism, Palaeontology, Geology

    Claims that 'Less was known of this planet than any other until it was examined by the philosopher DARWIN Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>'. Discusses Darwin's supposed claims regarding the inhabitants of the earth, pointing out that they will remain the same for 'two billions of years', at which time they will turn into strange ducks and 'commence a struggle for life', which will result in them having 'two wooden legs between three of them'. Adds that Darwin thinks the planet will later be inhabited by dinosaurs 'until it explodes'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Exploration, Futurism, Imperialism, Extra-Terrestrial Life, Race, Cultural Geography, Geology, Politics

    Explains how Mars was reached by the Earl of March in a 'stellar explorative expedition in 1916', and became the site of a 'British Monarchical Republic'. Points out that the planet's red-hot iron surface makes it 'awkward' for strangers, and notes that the inhabitants are tall 'Anthropophagi', whose habits include 'snoring and scratching their heads'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Homeopathy, Instinct

    Links the homeopathic principle of 'Like cures like' to people's 'natural curative instinct' to scratch an itch.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Charlatanry

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Railways, Amusement, Nutrition

    Argues that the moon hardly deserves the title of planet owing to the existence of a 'Lunar Caustic Railway' between the earth and the moon, and the conversion of the moon into a 'Evening Park for the People'. Notes the truth of the notion that the moon is made of green cheese, which is imported to the earth, and the contest between the alderman Francis G Moon Moon, Sir Francis Graham (1796–1871) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> and the 'Man in the Moon' over which was to be 'the sovereign of Lunaria'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Exploration, Futurism, Geology, Electrochemistry

    Describes the 'high expectations' formed of Jupiter following news that Sir Austen Layard has reached the planet. However, complains that the planet is 'a white pulpy mass, tasting like blancmange' and that attempts to 'find a footing' on the planet have consequently been unsuccessful. Records the blowing up of the 'four moons' and notes proposals for 'crystallising the planet by galvanism'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History, Ornithology

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Exploration, Futurism, War, Cultural Geography, Government, Nutrition, Religion, Imperialism

    Describes how the 'Saturnians' failed in their attempt to invade the earth 'and convert its inhabitants into Vegetarians and Pagans', a move leading to their conversion into 'mutton-chops', and the invasion of Saturn by Sir Juvenal Mahu. Ends by noting that 'Saturn has since become a dependency of England' whose ring is to be cleared away by an act of Parliament Houses of Parliament
Close   View the register entry >>.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Mathematics

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Zoology, Animal Behaviour

    Notes the tendency of the hedgehog to 'roll itself up into a ball' and its interest in black beetles and cricket.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Futurism, Extra-Terrestrial Life, Gender, Monstrosities, Cultural Geography, Hunting

    Describes the formation of a colony on this 'little known planet' (Herschel), which was threatened by the actions of 'Flying Women who infest the coast'. Adds that 'Science has no heart' and insists on killing 'these preposterous birds', but that they are beautiful and have defied attempts to stupify them. Warns that they must be propitiated if the planet is to be explored.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Futurism, Light, Creation, Monstrosities, Extra-Terrestrial Life, Religion, Physical Geography

    Describes how the light of the Milky Way has rendered the sun obsolete but that it must have been 'much admired when science was in her infancy'. Explains that the sun is a 'phosphoric body' surrounded by oil that comes from the Milky Way and is used to make whales, and adds that it is inhabited by Salamanders who have six legs and profess themselves Swedenborgians (disciples of Emanuel Swedenborg Swedenborg, Emanuel (1688–1772) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>). Thinks the sun is as worthy of a visit as the 'extinct Niagara of credulous historians'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Futurism, Mapping, Geology, Extra-Terrestrial Life, Monstrosities, Hunting, Gender

    Notes that Neptune 'is simply a lake of water' that is impossible to sound and is inhabited by mermaids who have proved difficult to catch. Adds that the planet's water 'mixes extremely well with any spirituous fluid'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Observation, Instruments, Lecturing, Amusement

    Reports that the Royal Astronomical Society Royal Astronomical Society
Close   View the register entry >> has 'succeeded in rectifying the globe', thus preventing further eclipses. Other changes effected in the cosmos include filling up the 'holes in the sun's path' with diamonds and pulling down zodiacal 'houses in opposition'. Notes the compensation sought by the 'street boys' who sold 'smoked glasses' to view eclipses, and John C Adams's Adams, John Couch (1819–92) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> use of fireworks instead of eclipses in his astronomical lectures.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Astronomy, Railways, Astrology, Quackery, Charlatanry

    Announces the opening of the 'Great Northern Hemispherical Railway' between 'all the principal fixed stars', a move enabling travellers to visit their natal stars without the help of 'ignorant quacks not much better than the Raphaels Smith, Robert Cross ('Raphael') (1795–1832) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> and Zadkiels Morrison, Richard James ('Zadkiel') (1795–1874) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> whom Punch extirpated in the nineteenth century'. Goes on to describe other features of the stellar railway, including the use of astronomers to give information and the deployment of spectacles to 'keep star-dust out of the eyes'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Nutrition, Narcotics, Medical Treatment

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Commerce, Technology, Religion

    Wonders why table-turners have not 'attempted to do something useful' with their practices. Distinguishes between these practitioners and the 'regular séance-holding professors of the art' who 'do their tricks and do their patrons', and who 'get a living by bringing up the dead'. Counting such 'shameless humbugs' with the 'sham prophets and sham doctors of our time', suggests that the 'amateur professors of the spiritualist faith' should use table-turning in the business of moving furniture. (2) Observes that 'when next we have occasion to change house [...] we shall be tempted to go through a scientific course of table-moving' and 'ascertain if furniture is capable of flitting automatically from Brompton (say) to Bayswater' (2–3). Emphasises the advantages of being able to instruct furniture on where to go, adding that were table-turning to be used in this way, then 'we should be among the last to sneer at spirit-moving'. Since furniture only moves 'needlessly' and spirits only rap out 'blasphemies', Punch refuses to give its 'adhesion to the spiritualist faith'. (3)

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Narcotics, Nutrition, Adulteration

    Noting the opportunities for doctors created by the 'surfeiting and stuffing' at Christmas, discusses the professional work afforded by a certain green paint used on toys which, according to an item in the Chemical News Chemical News (1859–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >>, contains the deadly substance, arsenite of copper.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Museums, Exhibitions, Physiognomy, Comparative Anatomy, Crime

    Responding to news that a model of a murderer has been added to the 'chamber of comparative physiognomy' at Madame Tussaud's Waxworks Madame Tussaud's Waxworks
Close   View the register entry >>, explains that the chamber 'was formerly the Chamber of Horrors' and that 'Comparative Physiognomy' contrasts the physiognomy of murderers with that of 'our noble selves'. Notes how pleasing it is to study those whose physiognomy differs from that of murderers.

Genre:

Introduction, Drollery; Notes, Spoof

Subjects:

Zoological Gardens, Medical Treatment, Spiritualism

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Cultural Geography, Crime, Liberalism, Morality, Race

    Wishes that the 'magnetic connection' between England and North America will soon be established, 'for then the Canadian Government might be rescued from the imminent peril of undertaking a load of infamy'—the prosecution by two British-American judges of an escaped black slave who killed a man in self-defence. Thinks 'a flash of telegraphic lightning' through the 'submarine wire' will save the 'unhappy man' from his sentence.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Lecturing, Education

Genre:

Address, Drollery

Subjects:

Animal Development, Health, Sanitation, Disease, Class

    Upholds the kindness which the British landlord shows towards his horses, the sanitary and pleasing environment which the landlord provides for his horses, and the separation of the landlord's horses from others. The last item on the petition, however, reveals that the landlord has provided much more sanitary dwellings for his horses than for the petitioner, whose cottage is 'badly built, is not drained, has no ventilation, has a rotten floor' and is extremely cold. Accordingly, begs 'Your Honour' to treat him 'LIKE A HORSE'.

Genre:

Illustration, Caricature

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J L, pseud.  [John Leech] Leech, John (1817–64) 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, Sanitation, Health

    Shows Mr Punch and a 'Landlord'—representing the Prime Minister, Henry J Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston) Temple, Henry John, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>—standing before a horse in a stable. The landlord describes the healthy conditions that he seeks to enforce in the building.

Genre:

Illustration, Caricature

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J L, pseud.  [John Leech] Leech, John (1817–64) 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, Sanitation, Health, Class

    Shows Mr Punch and a 'Landlord'—representing the Prime Minister, Henry J Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston) Temple, Henry John, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>—standing in an squalid and overcrowded room of a cottage, a scene that compares unfavourably with the stable depicted in John Leech, 'The Stable', Punch, 40 (1861), [16]. Mr Punch praises the landlord's healthy 'Stable Arrangements' but suggests that he tries 'something of the sort here!'.

See also:

Anon, 'The Peasant's Petition. The Petition of the British Peasant to the British Landlord, Humbly Complaining Showeth unto your Honour', Punch, 40 (1861), 14

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Gender, Amusement

    Discusses an article in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> describing how the armour-plating and stability of the French warship La Gloire La Gloire, ship
Close   View the register entry >> would be lost at high speed. Considers the bearing of this revelation on other iron clad frigates, notably 'La Crinoline'—a reference to the crinoline dresses worn by women. Warns that, at high speeds, 'La Crinoline', will also roll 'in a dangerous manner' and work loose her 'iron-works'.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

[Trident], pseud.  [Henry R Howard] Howard, Henry R (fl. 1853) Spielmann 1895
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Narcotics, Human Development, Gender

    Shows a surface on which rests a box marked 'pills' and a bottle labelled 'Black Draught'. The caption describes these as a very useful present to 'the Young Mother of a Large Family' during the 'Festive Season'

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Engineering

    Discusses the troubled launch of the iron warship, HMS Warrior HMS Warrior
Close   View the register entry >>.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Machinery, Amusement, Human Development, Invention

    Discusses an advertisement for 'un baby mécanique', a French invention that can imitate most of the characteristics of a real baby, including crawling, walking, and screaming. Ponders the possible uses of such an invention and its suitability as a present. Envisions that 'competitors' to the 'toy-baby' will soon 'spring up', including 'mechanical boys and girls' capable of 'all sorts of pleasant pranks' and 'a mechanical prize baby show' where 'advertising Frankensteins will exhibit their monsters'. Advises that the first prize in the latter show should go to the baby who exhibits none of the irritating habits of real babies.

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Disease, Adulteration, Pharmaceuticals

    Noting the widespread sweetening of cough mixtures, urges that such remedies, 'especially if intended for children, ought to be rendered as nauseous as possible'. Suggests a recipe for such a medicine which, it is claimed, will quickly stop a cough.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Zoology, Hunting, Breeding, Animal Behaviour, Anatomy

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Surgery, Crime, Education, Manufactories

    Discusses a North British Mail North British Mail (1848–51) North British Daily Mail (1851–1900) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> report of the high fee (£21) charged by the executioner, William Calcraft Calcraft, William (1800–79) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>. Points out that qualified surgeons would 'be very well paid' by this amount, which Calcraft earns for doing something so unskilled. Adds that while anybody 'of average ability' can 'compete for office of executioner', anticipates the day when competitors will have to answer questions in mathematics, geography, astronomy, and history, as well as deal with questions on 'the manufacture of hemp, the process of rope-making, the growth and preparation of timber'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Health, Physiology, Medical Practitioners

    Discusses an advertisement in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> for the sale of a rectory to a 90-year old incumbent. Ponders the possibility of the nonagenarian living much longer and stresses that nobody but a 'medical man' can illuminate this question.

Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Astronomy, Observation, Discovery, Amateurism

    Announces that of all the 'Great many new stars' that have lately been discovered, the largest was discovered 'when our friend PLUMP BULGELY, ESQ., fell down on some ice', and made a 'more satisfactory Observation' with 'a powerful glass—of brandy and water'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Periodicals, Extinction

Publications cited:

Sledgehammer, Sledgehammer (cited 1861) PU1/40/3/9
Close   View the register entry >> Tomahawk Tomahawk (cited 1861) PU1/40/3/9
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Disease, Transport, Hospitals, Patronage

    Warning of the dangers of travelling in cabs previously occupied by fever patients, announces that surgeons at the London Fever Hospital London Fever Hospital
Close   View the register entry >> have urged that 'fevers' be moved about in separate vehicles, and, pointing out that 'a hint from Punch of course will be sufficient on this head', urges readers to donate money towards this expensive enterprise, which will reduce Mr Punch's 'chances of infection when he takes a cab'.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Adulteration, Nutrition, Crime, Commerce, Health, Temperance

    Expresses surprise at the discussion of the adulteration of beer by the City of London Commissioners of Sewers City of London Commissioners of Sewers
Close   View the register entry >>, but having noted Henry Letheby's Letheby, Henry (1816–76) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> report on the dubious substances used by publicans to adulterate beer, understands why beer should have been brought before the commissioners. Thinks Letheby's evidence is enough 'to make one turn teetotaller' and to help make 'converts to the water faith'. Goes on to note that Letheby's evidence exposes the ways in which publicans are damaging their customers' health and pockets by adulterating beer and forcing the public to pay more taxes than they should.

Genre:

Notes, Satire

Subjects:

Human Development, Race, Telegraphy

    Sent 'By Repaired Atlantic Telegraph', this petition upholds various dubious arguments for slavery; for example, 'That the presence of any colouring matter in skin, as in water, is a proof, offered by Nature, of the inferiority of the article'. The petition attacks Richard Owen's Owen, Richard (1804–92) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> claim that Adam and Eve had 'coloured skins'.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Statistics

Institutions mentioned:

Statistical Society Royal Statistical Society
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Meteorology, Instruments, Measurement, Health, Class

    Following the severe winter weather in Britain, notes that 'several astronomers and meteorologists' have been writing to The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> about the importance of recording and publishing the temperature in specific locations. These include union workhouses and asylums for the poor.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Archaeology, Comparative Philology, Controversy, Meteorology, Analytical Chemistry, Spiritualism

Publications cited:

Peacock [1860?] Peacock, William F [1860?]. A Visit to the Wonderful City of Uriconium; or, TH Roman Ruins at Wroxeter, near Shrewsbury, with an Account of the Deformed Skeletons; and a Word to 'Punch', Manchester: Thomas Coles
Close   View the register entry >>

    Opens by noting a dispute between Mr Punch and William F Peacock Peacock, William F (fl. 1855) WBI
Close   View the register entry >> over the interpretation of some skulls 'lately found at Wroxeter', remains which Mr Punch considers to be those of monsters killed by 'jack the giant killer'. Proceeds to discuss an exchange between Giovanni Campani Campani, Giovanni (fl. 1861) WBI, PU1/40/5/1
Close   View the register entry >> and Carlo Matteucci Matteucci, Carlo (1811–68) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> over some red rain that allegedly fell on Sienna the previous December. Reports that both Campani and Matteucci have shown that the rain contained no cobalt (which was found in a previous shower of red rain), but insists that the rain 'must [...] be a chemical solution of something'. Denying the role of 'whirlwinds and waterspouts' in the production of red rain, argues that the phenomenon is the claret spilled by the giant in the legend of 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. The writer concludes by confessing that he is a 'whole hog Spiritualist' and in a postscript he anticipates the effects of table-rapping and the possibility of showers of coins.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Chemistry, Narcotics

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Architecture

Publications cited:

Bacon 1620 Bacon, Francis 1620. Instauratio magna, London: Joannem Billium typographum regium
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Education, Physical Geography, Human Development, Schools

    Shows a young woman standing in a school classroom surrounded by children. Her 'idea of the use of crinoline' is to have a map of the world drawn on her dress, which she then uses to teach geography.

Genre:

Announcement, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Accidents

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Charlatanry

    Discusses an article by Sarah Welton Welton, Sarah (fl. 1861) PU1/40/5/6
Close   View the register entry >> in a recent number of the Spiritual Magazine Spiritual Magazine (1860–77) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> in which she describes the alleged dialogue between a medium 'J.D.' and a spirit form, who was shabbily dressed and communicated 'telegraphically' via a finger on the medium's left hand. Punch considers the implications of the spirit's claim to be 'clothed by his own thoughts' and its apparent 'unsocial' behaviour. Concludes by noting that while the questions raised by the story are 'unanswerable', 'most people would like to be perfectly sure that J.D., when he heard through his left hand, did not see behind his closed eyelids, if not with his eye and his elbow over the left'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Transport, Engineering, Language

    Speculates on the proposal to build a 'tubular underground [railway] from Regent's Park to the Bank, emphasising the circularity of the route from 'Regent's Circus through Hollow(-w)ay'.

Genre:

Illustration, Caricature

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Politics, Military Technology, Government, Meteorology, Instruments

    Shows Britannia, Henry J Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston) Temple, Henry John, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, and Lord John Russell Russell, Lord John, 1st Earl Russell (1792–1878) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> (represented as small in stature, as typical in Punch). Palmerston carries umbrellas marked 'Navy Royal Navy
Close   View the register entry >>', 'Army Army
Close   View the register entry >>', and 'Volunteers', references to the premier's attempt to strengthen the Army and Navy and his promotion of rifle volunteers. Russell carries an umbrella labelled 'REFORM', a reference to his parliamentary Reform Bill. Britannia is seen near a barometer marked 'POLITICS' and responds to Palmerston's warning that politics tends to be 'stormy' by saying that she's 'quite prepared for a change of weather'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Nutrition, Superstition, Anatomy, Physiology, Health

    Discusses a passage in Old Militia Surgeon 1860 An Old Militia Surgeon [pseud.] [1861]. The Gastric Regions and Victualling Department. By an Old Militia Surgeon, London: Hardwicke
Close   View the register entry >> in which the author, 'An Old Militia Surgeon', discusses the connection between 'personal beauty' and 'judicious dieting'. Denies links between the consumption of certain vegetables and corresponding bodily developments, but insists that complexions may be governed by other foods and drinks. For example, notes how drinking 'brandy-and-water' leads to 'grog-blossoms on the end of the nose', that too much wine will redden the eyes, and that 'plenty of broccoli' leads to an 'aquiline form of nose'.

Genre:

Introduction, Drollery; Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Meteorology

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Meteorology, Medical Treatment, Health, Amusement, Heat, Instruments, Measurement, Societies

    Describes the people who seem to have had a 'jolly time' during the recent frost, notably those who drink more alcohol than is usual in order to warm themselves, but who therefore contravene medical advice which links greater alcohol consumption to increased risk from frostbite. Notes that the weather has prompted other jovial activities 'enjoyed under the plea of purely scientific purposes', and discusses those who 'sit up half the night with a guest or two' watching thermometers and measuring the progress of the cold. Concludes that 'science is compatible with no small amount of jollity' and explores the pleasant alcoholic connotations of phrases used in meteorology; for example, the 'haze' observed at soirées attended by savants partaking of drink.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery; Song, Drollery

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Quackery, Pharmaceuticals, Religious Authority

    Discusses an article in the Daily News Daily News (1846–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> describing a 'Sisters' Establishment' at Dresden which sells a 'powder against epilepsy' made from the remains of magpies. Questions the assertion that 'Innumerable people have been cured by these powders!' and, noting that the sisters are 'of Charity', asks them to make their secret medical prescription known in England. Promises to establish a 'Magpie Hospital for Epileptic Patients' and to advertise 'Magpie Powders' on attestation of the cure. Appends a song that it claims was sung by a bird that reported the arrest of a magpie in Dresden for singing. The song describes the medical uses to which the magpie—in particular its bones—are put after its death.

Genre:

Editorial

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Quackery, Periodicals

    Discusses developments following Punch's earlier discussion (in Anon, 'Type of the Medical Rogue', Punch, 39 (1860), 183) of an extract from the Morning Post Morning Post and Daily Advertising Pamphlet (1772–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> that described an anonymous medical rogue. Notes that the gentleman in question has contradicted the statement in the Morning Post that Punch quoted, and that the Lancet Lancet (1823–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> has testified to the 'honourable character' of the medical practitioner. Urges the gentleman to give his contradiction proper publicity.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Heroism, Cultural Geography

People mentioned:

Edward Jenner Jenner, Edward (1749–1823) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Hospitals, Patronage, Crime, Politics, Spiritualism, Government

    Discusses an extract from a Morning Post Morning Post and Daily Advertising Pamphlet (1772–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> article announcing that the 'long mismanagement of the Hospital of St Cross Hospital of St Cross, near Winchester
Close   View the register entry >> [...] is about to be brought before Parliament Houses of Parliament
Close   View the register entry >> by petition', a petition that seeks to 'cancel the leases granted by LORD GUILDFORD North, Francis, 6th Earl of Guilford (1777–1861) WBI
Close   View the register entry >> of the Hospital property'. Points out that Lord Guildford has recently died, thus problematizing the idea of bringing 'him to book', unless they use a medium to 'rap out his answer to the charge of fraud'. Anticipates that the petitioners will have to bear the loss of property.

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Animal Behaviour, Cultural Geography, Analogy, Astronomy, Instruments

    Following remarks by Edward G G S Stanley (14th Earl of Derby) Stanley, Edward George Geoffrey Smith, 14th Earl of Derby (1799–1869) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, draws an analogy between dogs and Italians, an analogy prompting Punch to identify some of the better qualities of dogs, including their 'true hearts', 'faithful natures', 'scent, to smell out vermin', and ability to know 'friends from foes'. Traces the appearance of dogs in the lives of eminent Italians, including Christopher Columbus Columbus, Christopher (1451–1506) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> who 'kept his dog-watch not in vain', and Galileo Galilei Galilei, Galileo (1564–1642) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> whose 'tube dogged Dian's train'.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Religion, Medical Treatment, Pharmaceuticals, Commerce, Religious Authority, Government

    Discusses the opposition of a 'leading Free Kirk Doctor' James Begg Begg, James (1808–83) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> to a police bill permitting the sale of food and medicine on Sundays. Agrees with Begg's call for attention to be drawn to the matter but points out that he was the same 'pious party' who 'inveighed against the heinous "Sin of walking on the Sabbath"'. Reasons that the sin of buying medicines means that it is better to 'lose your health than your chances of salvation' and to have sick bodies than souls. Asks Begg to support his claim by citing 'the pages of that Book'. Wonders why Begg and people of similar views do not 'start an anti-food-and-physic-purchasing crusade'.

Genre:

Announcement, Drollery

Subjects:

Agriculture, Invention, Domestic Economy

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

[Trident], pseud.  [Henry R Howard] Howard, Henry R (fl. 1853) Spielmann 1895
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Animal Behaviour, Natural History

    Shows a old woman sitting inside a cosy room, which has a window revealing a snow storm outside. Hovering near her is a large wasp, at which she shows delight because it portends 'a Warm and Early Summer'. The caption reveals that the inspiration for the picture is a recent article in the Field Field (1853–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >>.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Monstrosities, Language, Comparative Anatomy, Amusement

    Discusses an announcement in 'one of the papers' for the sale of 'Dry Germans' that appear to be 'half ox, half cow'. Observes that this 'ethnological specimen [...] never [...] crossed our scientific path before' and proposes to write to Richard Owen Owen, Richard (1804–92) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> 'on the subject', suspecting the hand of Phineas T Barnum Barnum, Phineas Taylor (1810–91) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> in the business.

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Accidents, Mathematics, Universities, Gender

    Argues that the number of accidents caused by women wearing crinoline dresses 'would tire out all the wranglers in Cambridge University of Cambridge
Close   View the register entry >> to sum up'.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Hospitals, Politics, Race

    Discusses the secession of Louisiana from the United States of America, which led to the seizure of a hospital (and expulsion of the patients) near New Orleans by military personnel so that it might be used as a barracks by Louisiana state troops. Punch notes that a leading American statesman condemned this action as barbaric, but then points out that 'what are the savage secessionist slave-owners of Louisiana but barbarians' and that 'Mercilessness to black slaves is simply consistent with cruelty to white sufferers [the patients]'.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships

    Remembers 'the good old days of Joseph Hume Hume, Joseph (1777–1855) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>', when the expenditure on defences was low and France was not stronger than Britain. Compares these halcyon days to the present, when the Brown Bess no longer suffices, and the nation must be defended by Rifle volunteers, soldiers armed with Enfield and Armstrong Armstrong, Sir William George, Baron Armstrong of Cragside (1810–1900) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> guns, and ironclad steamships rather than those 'wooden walls'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships

    Discusses news that the 'new iron-cased screw frigate', HMS Black Prince HMS Black Prince
Close   View the register entry >>, has an unprotected stern.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Geology, Societies

    Notes the confusion caused by a paper on 'Flints in the Drift' read at a recent meeting of the Geological Society Geological Society of London
Close   View the register entry >>.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Railways, Technology, Accidents, Commerce

    Rejoices at the news that the directors of the Eastern Counties Railway Eastern Counties Railway Company
Close   View the register entry >> have agreed to adopt a 'system of communication between the guard and the engine-driver of the train', but questions the appropriateness of the company calling its trains 'express and fast' given their lateness. Although suspecting that 'nothing will tend to reduce' the frequency of accidents occurring to this company's trains, commends the safety measure to other railway firms, notably because Mr Punch believes that most accidents are caused by poor vigilance. Concludes by praising the 'long-blamed Eastern Counties' for their 'step in the right direction'.

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Engineering, Politics, Accidents

    Discusses the powers and responsibilities conferred on the admiral, Baldwin W Walker Walker, Sir Baldwin Wake (1802–76) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, who is represented as possessing detailed information about the questionable state of the British Navy's Royal Navy
Close   View the register entry >> ships and the organisation of its shipyards. For example, he knows 'what ships are bad and good, / And how, though iron's proved the thing, we still keep using wood', 'how clever schemes get pooh-poohed by some official pup, / And trial ships so oft break down, and then get broken up', and 'of all our gunboat fleet how few there are of use, / How many paddles won't now work, how many screws are loose'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Transport, Engineering

    Discusses Baldwin W Walker's Walker, Sir Baldwin Wake (1802–76) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> claim that the 'whole railway world is at sea', a claim prompting Punch to speculate on the possibility of railways being extended to the oceans, including the notion that science may have 'overcome the great difficulty of laying down rails upon waves'.

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Commerce, Domestic Economy

    Describes how the 'motive power' imparted to furniture 'by the aid of a medium' might be used to frighten rent-collectors away from the properties which they own and from whose tenants they seek payment. Concludes that the sight of 'bewitched goods and chattels' will scare off the 'Man in Possession'.

Genre:

Announcement, Spoof

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Magnetism, Electricity, War

    Proposes to the Admiralty Admiralty
Close   View the register entry >> a 'new invention' consisting of 'an immense screw-steamer, considerably bigger than the SS Great Eastern SS Great Eastern
Close   View the register entry >>' on which is placed a 'huge magnet' powered by a 'galvanic arrangement'. The magnet allows the vessel to attract smaller iron clad ships (including France's awesome La Gloire La Gloire, ship
Close   View the register entry >>) and thus tow them into port and disarm them. Stresses that what the ship will cost in electromagnetism 'we should save in gunpowder'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism

    Discusses an advertisement in the Era Era (1839–1900+) BUCOP
Close   View the register entry >> for an rural theatrical entertainment concerning the 'SPIRIT OF JOEY GRIMALDI Grimaldi, Joseph (1778–1837) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>', which appears to show that spiritualist phenomena are now being used in pantomimes. Laments the prospect that the spirit of 'GRIMALDI' has to walk the earth 'to tickle country bumpkins'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Meteorology, Superstition

Genre:

Drama, Drollery

Subjects:

Commerce, Politics, Government, Invention, Patronage, Class

    Set in the chambers in Downing Street of prime minister Henry J Temple (3rd Viscount Palmerston) Temple, Henry John, 3rd Viscount Palmerston (1784–1865) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, this drama describes the attempt by a several 'illiberal Members of the House of Commons House of Commons
Close   View the register entry >>', led by Robert W Crawford Crawford, Robert Wigram (1813–89) WBI
Close   View the register entry >>, to gain Palmerston's patronage for a machine that promises to save the Exchequer £10,000,000 per annum. In discussion with a sceptical Palmerston, Crawford reveals that the machine punches holes in budgets by a 'combination of screws'. Later in the discussion, John Bright Bright, John (1811–89) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> interjects with his criticism that 'the machine was worse than useless, unless it could be used as a paper cutter'. (134). However, Palmerston later questions Bright on the fate of his 'self-acting paper-cutter', which turns out to have been 'notched by the stupid handling of an Aristocracy which wallowed in a slime of corruption'. Palmerston urges Crawford to suggest 'where the screw should be put on' and dismisses the machine as suitable only for 'the cutting of chaff'. (135)

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Government

People mentioned:

Baldwin W Walker Walker, Sir Baldwin Wake (1802–76) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

    Discusses the Admiralty's Admiralty
Close   View the register entry >> apparently wasteful expenditure of money to mend 'worn-out vessels' and other 'needless naval operations'. Stresses that since 'iron men-of-war are rapidly supplanting wooden ones', the cost of repairing ships will be more expensive than ever, and this suggests closer scrutiny of 'our Admiralty tinkers', which Punch agrees to do.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Health, Medical Treatment, Sanitation

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Sound, Time, Instruments, Supernaturalism, Methodology

    Invites the editor of the Spiritual Magazine Spiritual Magazine (1860–77) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> to consider a Notes and Queries Notes and Queries (1849–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> article describing the mysterious ringing of the new great bell in the Palace of Westminster Palace of Westminster
Close   View the register entry >>. Suggesting that the erratic behaviour of the clock is due to 'supernatural' agency, states that 'The rule in all cases of this kind is to consider whether the marvellous occurrence can be accounted for on supernatural principles, because, if it can, the truly philosophical mind will reject the natural solution of the mystery, and adopt the other'.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

[Trident], pseud.  [Henry R Howard] Howard, Henry R (fl. 1853) Spielmann 1895
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Astronomy, Light, Instruments, Zoology

    The 'A' which begins the first word of the article is formed from an A-shaped support of a telescope through which a cherub views a large insect.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J L, pseud.  [John Leech] Leech, John (1817–64) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Reading, Mental Illness, Supernaturalism

    Shows a man sitting in a drawing room at night, who drops the book he is reading when his wife, clad in ghostly white bed garments, appears at the door. The woman asks her husband when he is going to come upstairs and stop reading 'that "Woman in White" Collins, Wilkie 1860. The Woman in White, 3 vols, London: Sampson Low
Close   View the register entry >>'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Accidents, Hospitals, Medical Treatment, Gender, Education

    Following news of an omnibus accident caused by a woman wearing a crinoline dress, suggests the establishment of a 'hospital for patients who have been either maimed or burnt through the wearing of wide petticoats'. Points out that the large number of accidents caused by crinolines should justify crinoline wings at Guy's Hospital Guy's Hospital
Close   View the register entry >> and St Bartholomew's Hospital St Bartholomew's Hospital
Close   View the register entry >>. Suggests other measures that should be implemented to help crinoline 'patients', including the storage of lint and flour in drawing rooms. Noting cases of 'Suicide by Crinoline', suggests that 'Lovely Woman' needs to be 'made nervous' by her folly and accordingly, advises marking wide dresses with the warning 'Dangerous!" which might deter women from buying these garments.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Language, Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Quackery, Religious Authority

    Argues that the word 'hypocrite' came originally from Hippocrates Hippocrates of Cos (460–370 BC) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, and means 'one who is a quack, who prescribes falsely, and deals in deleterious things', and who is thus the opposite of 'a true disciple of HIPPOCRATES' or of 'a genuine professor of the healing Truth'.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

J L, pseud.  [John Leech] Leech, John (1817–64) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Spielmann, Marion Harry Alexander 1895. The History of "Punch", London: Cassell
Close   View the register entry >>

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Human Development, Disease, Psychology, Commerce

Institutions mentioned:

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

    Shows a winter woodland in which several people are seen strolling. In the foreground, three children hold out their tongues to a gentleman standing before them. The caption reveals that the gentleman is their family doctor and that by, 'Force of Habit', they 'go through the expensive pantomime of putting out their tongues as a matter of course'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Scientific Practitioners, Patronage, Government, Natural Law, Charlatanry, Commerce

    Announcing the proposal to confer a peerage on Benjamin C Brodie Brodie, Sir Benjamin Collins, 1st Baronet (1783–1862) DSB ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, insists that his ennoblement will 'add much to their Lordships' intellectual dignity', since 'a profession grounded on the laws of nature is infinitely nobler' than one based on human laws. The latter consists mainly of 'mercenary and fraudulent operations', compared to which painful medical operations are 'infinitely more honourable'.

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Time, Instruments, Accidents

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Homeopathy, Medical Treatment

    Noting the principle, expounded by Christian F S Hahnemann Hahnemann, Christian Friedrich Samuel (1755–1843) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, that 'Like cureth like', wonders whether jaundice may be cured by eating a paté made from diseased liver.

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Human Development, Physiology, Analogy

    Compares bodies which waste away from 'constant toil' and 'friction' to clothes which 'wear away'.

Genre:

Poetry

On Eating My Dinner

Genre:

Regular Feature, Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Government

    Reports on the debate on the structure of ships, in which Joseph Paxton Paxton, Sir Joseph (1803–65) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> and Samuel M Peto Peto, Sir Samuel Morton (1809–89) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> argued against wooden vessels.

Genre:

Advertisement, Spoof

Subjects:

Military Technology, Amusement

People mentioned:

William G Armstrong Armstrong, Sir William George, Baron Armstrong of Cragside (1810–1900) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Display, Amusement, Physical Geography

People mentioned:

James Wyld Wyld, James, the younger (1812–87) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Institutions mentioned:

Wyld's Great Globe Wyld's Great Globe, Leicester Square
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships

    Discusses an article in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> reporting the launch of a new French steel-plated frigate, the Toulon Toulon, ship
Close   View the register entry >>.

Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Class, Commerce, Surgery, Hospitals, Gender

    Describing the low cost of a cataract operation for 'a labouring man' and the high cost of the same operation for wealthy and aristocratic persons, observes that for 'a man with a small income, and perhaps a large family', an approximate cost of £50 for this operation is 'a heavy fork-out'. Accordingly, argues for the benefits of 'an institution of the nature of a benefit club' regarding 'surgical attendance', which will allow subscribing patients to have surgery performed on them as cheaply as elsewhere. Goes on to note that such an institution, the London Surgical Home London Surgical Home
Close   View the register entry >>, already exists for women. Describes the considerable success rate of the hospital that it regards as proof of the genuineness of the concern. Draws attention to the founder of the hospital, Isaac B Brown Brown, Isaac Baker (1811–1873) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, whom it believes should be thanked by 'poor surgeons' and women patients, and notes the employment opportunities that will be provided by the establishment of more surgical homes.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Human Development, Force, Crime, Morality

    Invites philanthropists devoted to the 'diffusion of useful knowledge' to consider an extract from Hermann von Helmholtz's Helmholtz, Hermann von (1821–94) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> recent Royal Institution Royal Institution of Great Britain
Close   View the register entry >> lecture upholding the treadmill as the place where humans can exert their greatest effort (a version of which was published as Helmholtz 1858–62 Helmholtz, Hermann von 1858–62. 'On the Application of the Law of the Conservation of Force to Organic Nature', Proceedings of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, 3, 347–57
Close   View the register entry >>). Suggests that this information be 'brought sufficiently well before the morally inferior classes' who inhabit such places as thieves' and rogues' dens, and the Stock Exchange Stock Exchange
Close   View the register entry >>. Emphasises that this information will deter rogues from their crime.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Medical Practitioners, Surgery, Government

    Shows John Bull sitting crying in a dentist's chair, while Britannia, dressed as his mother, stands behind him, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer William E Gladstone Gladstone, William Ewart (1809–98) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, dressed as a dentist, hides from his patient a sharp instrument labelled 'INCOME TAX'. Giving John Bull a penny, the dentist reassures his patient that he will not 'draw any more this time'. The reference puns on the notion of the drawing of teeth and the extraction of money from the taxpayer.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Spiritualism, Charlatanry

Publications cited:

The Times, The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> Spiritual Magazine Spiritual Magazine (1860–77) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

MIlitary Technology, Steamships, Progress, Government

    Reports on the news of the launch of another French steel frigate and laments the slowness with which the Admiralty Admiralty
Close   View the register entry >> is launching its rival HMS Britannia HMS Britannia
Close   View the register entry >>.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Railways, Transport, Government, Politics, Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Pharmaceuticals

    Notes John Brady's Brady, John (1812–87) Stenton 1976WBI
Close   View the register entry >> unsuccessful attempt to 'get a Select Committee appointed to consider the Street-Railway question', observing: 'this respected Apothecary is not celebrated for his successful treatment of popular complaints, and the House House of Commons
Close   View the register entry >> would not follow his prescription, thinking perhaps that he understands Opiates better than Sleepers' (180).

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Disease, Medical Treatment, Narcotics, Homeopathy, Periodicals

    Discusses the claim made by Jules G B Cloquet Cloquet, Jules Germain, Baron (1790–1882) WBI
Close   View the register entry >> at the Académie des Sciences Académie des Sciences, Paris
Close   View the register entry >>, Paris that, according to a communication from a M de la Gironièrre Gironnière, M de la (fl. 1861) PU1/40/17/2
Close   View the register entry >>, snakebites can be cured by drinking alcohol. Emphasises that Gironnièrre had made a patient suffering from snakebite 'dead drunk three times over' and consequently saved his life. Punch considers this claim to support 'the homeopathic axiom' that like poisons cure like, but adds that in this case the quantities 'are far from infinitesimal'. Concludes by noting that ordinary cases of snakebite may be cured with 'milder forms of spiritous liqours', but thinks 'Punch' will be able to cure even more deadly bites, a claim which it supports on the boast that it is 'peculiarly antagonistic to the virulence of poisonous reptiles'.

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Military Technology, Steamships, Manufactories, Industry

    'Our wooden walls are being cased / With iron plates we see; / But if they're Sheffield IRONSIDES, / How very SOFT they'll be'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Music, Instruments, Pollution, Crime

    Discusses Charles Babbage's Babbage, Charles (1792–1871) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> summoning of four German street musicians to Marylebone Police Court for creating a disturbance. Notes that the counsel for the musicians urged Babbage to stop his legal action because street musicians will continue regardless, but doubts the lawyer's claim that street musicians could 'create a continual disturbance' under Babbage's window 'with impunity'. Concludes by noting that, having been fined, the defendants were 'locked up in default' by the magistrate Mr Mansfield Mansfield, Mr (fl. 1861) PU1/40/17/2
Close   View the register entry >>, and argues that this will be a warning to musicians not to annoy Babbage.

Genre:

Reminiscences

Subjects:

Music, Language, Comparative Philology, Lecturing, Amusement

    The narrator recollects how, following a performance of Ludwig van Beethoven's Beethoven, Ludwig van (1770–1827) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> 'grand Mass' (probably the Missa Solemnis), it was difficult to use the word 'music' to describe both the sublime music of Beethoven and that of the 'German band' who interrupted his reflections after the concert. Thinks its 'logical conclusion' should be left to Friedrich Max Müller Max Müller, Friedrich (1823–1900) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> (who was then giving a series of lectures on the science of language at the Royal Institution Royal Institution of Great Britain
Close   View the register entry >>).

Genre:

Essay

Subjects:

Patronage, Medical Practitioners, Pharmaceuticals

Genre:

News-Commentary

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Professionalization, Quackery, Boundary Formation, Surgery, Commerce, Charlatanry

    Rejoices at the news that dentists have 'united for an effort to establish a broad line of demarcation between themselves and the quacks and snobs'. Notes that while 'thinking people' can easily distinguish between those 'whose treatment of the mouth is based upon the principles of science' and quacks, 'the world is not made up of thinking people' but 'fools' who help quacks gain their large incomes. Explains that 'An educational test' and a diploma awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons Royal College of Surgeons
Close   View the register entry >> are some of the requirements of 'honourable' dentists—innovations that have caused 'great rage' among dentist 'snobs'. Proceeds to discuss a dinner held in association with the 'movement', at which Richard Owen Owen, Richard (1804–92) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> put professional dentists on a par with physicians and surgeons, but 'PROFESSOR PUNCH' warned that dentistry is still 'divided in two parts' since there are both honourable and disreputable practitioners among physicians and surgeons. Mr Punch adds that the public should take as much care of their mouths as of other parts of its body, should avoid 'the dirty-handed outsiders of dentistry', and should appreciate the 'custodians of the Ivory Gate'. He lends his support to the 'anti-Quack movement'. The illustration is a 'Portrait of Curius Dentitus', a Romanesque figure with broken teeth.

Genre:

Poetry

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Evolution, Human Species, Race, Breeding, Biblical Authority, Geology, Creationism, Archaeology, Controversy, Comparative Anatomy, Darwinism, Exploration

People mentioned:

Paul B Du Chaillu Du Chaillu, Paul Belloni (1831–1903) CBD
Close   View the register entry >>

    The illustration shows a gorilla holding a stick and wearing a board on which is written 'AM I A MAN AND A BROTHER?'—a phrase much used in Punch in the context of its anti-slavery arguments. Written from the perspective of the gorilla from the Zoological Society Gardens Zoological Society of London —Gardens
Close   View the register entry >>, it opens by asking for clarification on the question of whether it is 'A man in ape's shape' or a 'monkey deprived of its tail'. Observes how Chambers 1844 [Chambers, Robert] 1844. Vestiges of the Natural History of Creation, London: John Churchill
Close   View the register entry >> 'taught' how species had developed and progressed from 'naught', but then how Charles R Darwin Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> 'in a book of much worth [Darwin 1859 Darwin, Charles Robert 1859. On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection; or, The Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, London: John Murray
Close   View the register entry >>] showed how "Nature's selection"' and the 'struggle for life' resulted in 'specific distinction'. Illustrates this with the pointed example of 'pigeons and doves' that, through natural selection and 'a million of ages', develop into 'prophets and sages'. Goes on to describe five attempts to trace man's ancestry: Leonard Horner Horner, Leonard (1785–1864) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, who has shown that 'Biblical dates' cannot trace the 'age of the world'; William Pengelly Pengelly, William (1812–94) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, who has found evidence that 'celts and shaped stones' and 'cave bones' are the same age; Joseph Prestwich Prestwich, Sir Joseph (1812–96) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, who claims evidence for the existence of human 'tools [...] before the Mosaic creation'; and Thomas H Huxley Huxley, Thomas Henry (1825–95) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> and Richard Owen Owen, Richard (1804–92) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, who, 'with rivalry growing', argue over man's simian ancestry. Outlines Owen's opposition to the idea of man's simian ancestry with references to the cerebral and anatomical differences between humans and apes: these include the chimpanzee's brain (which is 'exceedingly small' and has no 'Hippocampus', and whose 'horn' of the posterior cornu is 'Of extremity shorn'), the existence of a 'solution, / Of '"Archencephalic" degree' on 'each "convolution"' of 'man's "cerebellum"', and apes' possession of 'thumbs for great toes' but 'no nose'. Huxley then accuses Owen of lying, of being unoriginal, and of 'not a few' mistakes 'detrimental to his reputation'. Concludes by judging Huxley's assertion at the end of Huxley 1861 Huxley, Thomas Henry 1861. 'Man and Apes', Athenaeum, 13 April 1861, p. 498
Close   View the register entry >>—'To twice slay the slain'—to be 'labour in vain, / Unproductive of gain', and then bids 'Adieu'.

Genre:

Regular Feature, Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Transport, Engineering, Politics, Government

    Notes the discussion in the House of Lords House of Lords
Close   View the register entry >> of the 'Canal of the Future' Suez Canal
Close   View the register entry >> which Ferdinand, vicomte de Lesseps Lesseps, Ferdinand, vicomte de (1805–94) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> seeks to build in the Isthmus of Suez, but which the government opposes 'for political reasons' (206).

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Meteorology, Animal Behaviour

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy

Institutions mentioned:

London District Telegraph Company London District Telegraph Company
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Politics, Animal Behaviour, Controversy, Hunting, Exploration, Language

    Notes that the 'heroes' of 'Gorilla' and 'Guerilla' warfare are Giuseppe Garibaldi Garibaldi, Giuseppe (1807–82) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> and Paul B Du Chaillu Du Chaillu, Paul Belloni (1831–1903) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> respectively. This refers to Du Chaillu's controversial evidence for the aggressive nature of gorillas.

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Hunting, Environmentalism, Government, Politics, Nutrition, Commerce, Language

    Adopting a strong Scottish accent, allegedly spoken by Scottish salmon, this poem responds to a government commission's measures to conserve salmon. The poet praises the commission for protecting it and other fish 'from traps and poachers', but later warns that 'we'd no wish sic love to abound, / As that which its aim maun declare / To be sawmon [salmon] at four-pence the pound!'.

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Telegraphy, Technology, Accidents, Commerce, Language

    Notes how the 'poor shareholders who have invested their money in the Atlantic and Red Sea Telegraphs' think both telegraphs 'extremely hard lines'.

Genre:

Illustration, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Evolution, Darwinism, Human Species, Human Development, Animal Behaviour, Race

    Referring to the simian ancestry of man claimed by supporters of Charles R Darwin's Darwin, Charles Robert (1809–82) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> theory of evolution, this illustration reverses the role of humans and their subaltern ancestors. It shows a gorilla, smartly dressed in evening wear, standing in the hallway of a house in which a reception is taking place. The flunkey who has opened the door to the gorilla is 'Alarmed' and stammers 'MR. G G-G-O-O-O-RILLA!'. The 'O-RILLA' may also refer to Punch's identification of Irish people as a race exhibiting simian and atavistic qualities.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Ethnology, Anthropology, Hunting, Exploration, Animal Behaviour, Race, Human Species, Human Development, Language, Class

    Describes a discussion at the Ethnological Society Ethnological Society of London
Close   View the register entry >> that followed Paul B Du Chaillu's Du Chaillu, Paul Belloni (1831–1903) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> paper on the 'natives of Western Africa' (a version of which was published as Du Chaillu 1861b Du Chaillu, Paul Belloni 1861b. 'Observations on the People of Western Equatorial Africa', Transactions of the Ethnological Society of London, 1, 305–315
Close   View the register entry >>). Infers from the work of this 'mighty hunter of gorillas' that the 'principal distinction' between this species and 'some of their human neighbours' is that the 'latter are cannibals. Goes on to describe how, in the ensuing discussion, John Crawfurd Crawfurd, John (1783–1868) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, observed that both the Bakalai tribe and the Chinese sound 'r' like 'l', which has the unfortunate consequence of making 'rice' sound like 'lice'. Punch notes with relief that 'youthful swells' pronounce 'r' like 'w' and thus do not make rice sound 'disgusting'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Music, Instruments, Mental Illness

    Describes the case of a person whose brains were 'completely blown away' by the sound of a French horn and who subsequently suffered from delirium and 'is at present partaking of the hospitalities of DR. FORBES WINSLOW Winslow, Forbes Benignus (1810–74) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Hospital, War, Medical Treatment, Human Species, Human Development, Animal Behaviour, Exploration, Ethnology, Anthropology, Instinct

    Laments the fact that not all old and wounded British sailors are 'entitled to a pension or a berth in Greenwich Hospital Royal Naval Hospital, Greenwich
Close   View the register entry >>' and that such individuals are consequently forced into destitution. Describes the foundation of the Tyne Aged Sailors' and Scullerman's Asylum Tyne Aged Sailors' and Scullermans' Asylum
Close   View the register entry >>, an institution designed to tackle the 'misery' of ancient naval heroes. Presents a report (from the honorary secretary of the asylum) of one aged sailor who had died whilst acting as a scullerman. Noting Paul B Du Chaillu's Du Chaillu, Paul Belloni (1831–1903) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> claim that African tribes eat even diseased human corpses, questions whether a 'nation which allows its defenders [sailors] to perish' is more 'righteous, than a tribe which eats the dead'. Points out that the asylum has a claim on the benevolent and those 'actuated by the instinct of self-preservation', and stresses how England's defence depends on its 'maritime strength'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Subjects:

Evolution, Darwinism, Animal Behaviour, Photography | Photography, Exhibitions, Taxonomy, Representation

    The 's' of the first word of this article is made from the tail of a monkey in an illustration next to the text. Like Anon, 'The Lion of the Season', Punch, 40 (1861), [213], this reverses the roles of man and his supposed simian ancestors. It shows a gorilla and a monkey trying to take the photograph of a frightened human explorer/traveller, who has evidently been trying to photograph the monkey and gorilla, and whose rifle the gorilla now holds. The monkey is seen opening the lens cap of the photographic apparatus, while the gorilla warns the traveller with a finger. The article discusses the controversial proposal by the commissioners for London's forthcoming International Exhibition International Exhibition (1862), London
Close   View the register entry >> to class the productions of the 'Photographic Art' with the 'articles of mechanical apparatus comprised in Section II'. Punch backs the argument made to the commissioners by the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Jonathan F Pollock Pollock, Sir Jonathan Frederick, 1st Baronet (1783–1870) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>, that the Photographic Society Photographic Society of London
Close   View the register entry >> seeks to promote photography 'in connection with science and the fine arts' and that while it agrees that photographic instruments should be placed alongside other apparatus, its 'results' should be placed with 'Modern Fine Arts'.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Meteorology, Disease

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Pharmaceuticals, Chemistry, Language

    Asks the Apothecaries' Hall Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London—Apothecaries' Hall
Close   View the register entry >> whether, given the line from William Shakespeare's Shakespeare, William (1564–1616) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Macbeth, 'throw physic to the dogs', and the knowledge that quinine is made from bark, quinine should be called 'Canine'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Chemistry, Adulteration, Periodicals, Nationalism, Analytical Chemistry, Religious Authority

    Responds to a letter in The Times The Times (1777–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> by Frederick Penny Penny, Frederick (1816–69) WBI
Close   View the register entry >>, who claims to have discovered large quantities of clay in 'foreign papers' (Penny 1861 Penny, Frederick 1861. 'Clay in Foreign Paper', The Times, 22 May 1861, p. 9c
Close   View the register entry >>). Punch complains that it too has found much dark 'mud' and 'dirt' in such foreign papers as the L'Univers Tribune Catholique, La (1832) Univers (Religiuex, Politique, Philosophique, Scientifique et Litteraire) (1833–60) Bibliotheque Nationale
Close   View the register entry >>, much of which is flung at England. Adds that the only 'clay' it discovered in a paper was the 'C. M. CLAY' who wrote to The Times. Concludes by noting that it has sent Penny a copy of the Morning Advertiser Morning Advertiser (1792–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> which Punch hopes he will analyse, and which it expects will be found to contain much white clay. Adds that it decided against sending Penny the Tablet Tablet (1840–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> on the grounds that it consists mostly of 'Jesuit's Bark'.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Scientific Practitioners, Crime, Music, Instruments, Pollution, Heroism, Progress

    Opens by reporting how several Marylebone shopkeepers have denounced the magistrate Mr Mansfield Mansfield, Mr (fl. 1861) PU1/40/17/2
Close   View the register entry >> for imprisoning the 'gang' of 'dirty' German street musicians who were annoying Charles Babbage Babbage, Charles (1792–1871) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>. Punch criticises the shopkeepers for their 'bunkum' speeches and for not being 'proud of having such a man as MR. BABBAGE in their parish'. Compares Babbage to Dominique F J Arago Arago, Dominique François Jean (1786–1853) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>, whose neighbours respectfully cordoned off his dwelling and thus enabled him to pursue his experiments undisturbed. Goes on to criticise the shopkeepers for hypocritcally emphasising 'these ear henlightend days, and the march of hintellect', and urges Mansfield to imprison as many of the 'organ-wretches' as necessary and to take Babbage's word over that of the shopkeepers.

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Religious Authority, Periodicals, Controversy, Progress, Charlatanry

    Opens by noting that the 'rational Roman Catholic journal', the Rambler Rambler (1848–62) Home and Foreign Review (1862–64) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >>, has observed how the Catholic Church has 'fettered or prevented the course of science in several parts of Europe', and that in response, the Catholic Tablet Tablet (1840–1900+) Waterloo Directory
Close   View the register entry >> denies anything wrong with the Church condemning or corrupting science 'in the interests of man's salvation'. Punch infers that the Church would lie and condemn somebody for 'telling the truth', and accordingly questions the authority of a periodical which avows that 'part of their religion is humbug'.

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Amusement, Telegraphy

Institutions mentioned:

London District Telegraph Company London District Telegraph Company
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Dialogue, Drollery

Subjects:

Domestic Economy, Machinery, Technology, Gender, Human Development

    Describes a conversation between a husband and his wife over who operates the sewing-machine that the husband has bought. The wife reveals that all the sewing is done by the nursery maid, who operates the pedal of the sewing-machine as she rocks the baby to sleep.

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Mesmerism, Amusement

    Holds that 'Elegant postures and gestures' are so irresistible that they 'seem to be the Mesmerism of fashionable life'

Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Medical Treatment, Disease, Technology

    Noting the benefits of using Turkish baths in the relief of 'diseases of repletion', warns that the apparatus may produce 'diseases of hot climates' and accordingly suggests that the Victoria Regia House at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew
Close   View the register entry >>, may be used as a substitute.

Genre:

Poetry

Subjects:

Hunting, Exploration, Animal Behaviour, Controversy

    Describes John E Gray's Gray, John Edward (1800–75) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> objection to Paul B Du Chaillu's Du Chaillu, Paul Belloni (1831–1903) CBD
Close   View the register entry >> claims, and Du Chaillu's dismissal of this attack on the grounds that Gray has slandered David Livingstone Livingstone, David (1813–73) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>. This refers to the public attack, by Gray and others, on the veracity of Du Chaillu's account of his African travels and his observations of the animals he collected.

Genre:

Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Zoology, Human Development | Health, Disease

    Describes a conversation with a 'young lady' in which she is asked if she thought 'the Gorillas would look prettier if they shaved' and also reveals that her husband had insured against a large doctor's bill by exposing his children to the invigorating airs of Brighton.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Mechanics, Politics

People mentioned:

Archimedes, Archimedes (c. 287–212 BC) DSB
Close   View the register entry >> Benjamin Disraeli Disraeli, Benjamin, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (1804–81) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Regular Feature, Reportage, Drollery

Subjects:

Education, Sanitation, Government

Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Adulteration, Nutrition, Crime, Medical Practitioners

    Discusses a legal defence of the 'milk business' which upheld the practice of adulterating milk with pure water, and thus sought to challenge accusations that it uses unwholesome substances (including calves' brains and chalk) in the production of milk. Thanks milkmen for diluting milk 'in such extreme moderation', and insists that they have now 'come almost milk-white out of the above lacteal analysis'. Goes on to argue that the English should adopt the French practice of having medical officers test the quality of milk, and, given the quantity of water in milk, suggests that water companies pipe milk to houses and that water and milk bills should be combined.

Genre:

Essay, Drollery

Subjects:

Music, Instruments, Steam-power

    Discusses the possibility of using a steam-powered organ in St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral
Close   View the register entry >>.

Genre:

Notes, Drollery

Subjects:

Evolution, Exploration, Travel, Animal Behaviour, Controversy

People mentioned:

John E Gray, Gray, John Edward (1800–75) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> Paul B Du Chaillu Du Chaillu, Paul Belloni (1831–1903) CBD
Close   View the register entry >>

    'A case of Gorilla-warfare'.

Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Music, Instruments, Pollution

People mentioned:

Charles Babbage Babbage, Charles (1792–1871) DSB
Close   View the register entry >>

Genre:

Poetry, Drollery

Subjects:

Exhibitions, Education, Palaeontology, Zoology, Ethnology, Aesthetics

    Notes the fulfilment of the late Punch contributor and entertainer Albert R Smith's Smith, Albert Richard (1816–60) ODNB
Close   View the register entry >> prophecy of a swift decline in the cultural pretensions of the entertainments at the Crystal Palace Crystal Palace
Close   View the register entry >>. Stresses how supporters of the original scheme dreamed of attracting 'JOHN BULL / By Saurians displayed in action' and drawing 'the town, / By their condensed zoo- and ethnology, / Savages set in buff and brown, / High art, and miniature geology'.

Genre:

Announcement, Spoof

Subjects:

Exhibitions, Zoology, Extinction, Commerce

    'Statue of an "Original Shareholder"' of the Crystal Palace Crystal Palace
Close   View the register entry >>.