Genre:

News-Commentary, Drollery

Subjects:

Natural History, Ethnography, Specimen Trading

Institutions mentioned:

Customs

    Discusses a report in The Times of the arrival in Southampton docks of a shipment, addressed to Dr Schwarz of Germany (possibly anthropolgist Eduard Schwarz), of natural history specimens including 'the head of negro preserved in brandy in a jar'. Notes that a trick was played on custom officials who evidently tasted the 'spirituous liquor' in which these gruesome specimens were preserved. Henceforth, the officials will have to 'assure themselves that the brandy in which alleged anatomical preparations are imported, really contains those objects of medical science'.