Genre:

Reportage, Spoof

Subjects:

Medical Practitioners, Medical Treatment, Politics, War

    An account of the 'prescription' offered by 'Doctor Louis Napoleon' to Pope Pius IX. This 'bitter pill' is suggested following Napoleon's observation that the pope's 'constitution' has been greatly upset and weakened—an allusion to the recent Franco-Sardinian war against Austria for occupying several northern Italian provinces, and the victorious Napoleon's promise to unify Italy. Napoleon goes on to warn the pope of the threat of revolution and offers him free medical advice: 'to take the mild form of emetic which I venture to prescribe, and throw up the things [the 'revolted provinces'] which so long have been disturbing you'.