Genre:

News-Commentary

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Amusement, Display, Quackery, Medical Treatment, Government, Patronage

    Praises an 'advertising doctor', Wiljalba Frikell, 'Physician to their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Russia', who entertained audiences with displays of illustions. Relishes the appearance of a physician 'candidly avowing' the illusory nature of his practice and whose illusions, unlike those of quacks, are 'harmless and amusing, and hence probably in some degree medicinal'. Concludes by likening quack medicine to a Jack-o'-lantern display in which 'the patent medicine is the lantern', and its advertiser is the Jack who enjoys government patronage for his 'good-for-nothing' compounds.