Genre:

Proceedings, Spoof

Relevant illustrations:

wdct.

Illustrators:

[Trident], pseud.  [Henry R Howard] *

Subjects:

Quackery, Crime, Periodicals, Commerce, Sanitation

    The initial letter forms part of an illustration showing several animals (including a frog, an owl, a snake, and a bird) discussing what appear to be medicines being presented by the owl and bird. The text describes a meeting 'attended by all the advertising quacks in the kingdom', a meeting prompted by the prosecution of A F Henery and Mr Anderson. The participants have names that reflect their shady characters: for example, Mr Stoat and Mr Larogue. Mr Stoat, the chairman, rallies support for Henery and Anderson and uses 'strong language' against the court that convicted them. Mr Foumart warns that the press now threaten to 'crush them' but points out that some 'newspaper proprietors' will continue to print their advertisements for financial reasons. Mr Larogue warns that 'the so-called respectable part of the Press' will 'proceed from bad to worse' and notes that they, like the Lancet, will 'denounce the advertisers by name' and stigmatise the papers where such advertisements appear. Dr De La Rue reminds the meeting of the uses of 'posters and handbills', while Mr Skunk thanks Parliament for the libel laws, which allow him to take action against assailants. Concludes with the formation of a 'Mutual Protection Society' for quacks, and finally the entrance of an 'Officer from the Board of Health' who sprinkles the place with chloride of lime.