The battle of the barbers and surgeons [graphic]

"Hand-to-hand encounters between surgeons, indicated by their instruments and their old-fashioned dress, and barbers, wearing aprons and also with the tools of their trade. In the centre a barber seizes the wig and neck-cloth of his antagonist, who says: "Take care of my Wig I had it new to go down to the House". The other answers: "I ll dress your wig for you Master Bolus - you Bleed indeed - why I let as much blood for a penny, as you charge a pound for". A barber (left) bends over his prostrate victim (who cries murder murder), saying, "I'll teach you to despise Gentlemen Barbers you pitiful Pill monger." A stout well-dressed surgeon (right) raises his tasselled cane to strike a terrified and ragged barber, saying: "Ill teach you, you beggarly Scoundrel to call yourself Barber-surgeon & poking out your Damn'd Pole - when I am riding in my Chariot". The other screams "O Dear Brother Dressum youll throttle me I take in my Pole Damn the Cutting Part of the business". Behind (left), under a barber's pole from which hangs a barber's basin, a surgeon raises his cane to smite a fleeing barber. In the background two other couples are fighting. See British Museum Satires No. 9092, &c."--British Museum online catalogue