Two renowned quacks demonstrate the superiority of each other's experiments and inventions. On the left, Graham, a quack, fashionable doctor and visionary, stands on the glass insulators used in his experiments with electricity and placed on top of a podium in the form of an E.O.(gaming) table, a reference to the illegal gambling he patronized at his residence. He stradles a long tube signed, "Prime conductor / Gentle restorer / Largest in the world." Behind his table stand two gigantic porters employed at his establishment, named here "Gog" and "Magog." The placard around Gog's neck, "The Temple of Health & of Hymen," is an allusion to Graham's 'celestial bed' for cure of sterility. His opponent on the right side of the image, quack, conjurer and showman Katerfelto, crouches next to a cylindrical conductor signed, "Positively Charg'd." The trident inserted in the back end of the conductor touches a grindstone turned by the devil. Electric sparks shoot from its front end and from Katerfelto's right thumb and index finger. Some sparks drip on a toy cannon in front of him firing at Graham. His podium is made of flimsy planks placed atop the container signed, "Reservoir for Dead Insects destroyd by Dr. Katterf[elto]."
Description:
Title from item., Sheet trimmed trimmed to plate mark., and Mounted to 28 x 39 cm.
Publisher:
Pubd. March 17th 1783 by W. Humphrey No 227 Strand
Subject (Geographic):
England
Subject (Name):
Graham, James, 1745-1794. and Katerfelto, Gustavus, fl. 1782-1783.
Subject (Topic):
Electricity, Experiments, Gog and Magog, Quacks, Devil, Medicines, Gambling, and Wigs
Title derived from caption below image., Place of publication derived from publisher's street address., Complete caption: The quintessence of quackism, founded principals truly chimerical aetherial magnetical, electrical, & immaterial, & the four quarters of the globe ransak'd to make it ingeniously rediculous. Dedicated to the emperor of quacks, by myself., Description from British Museum: Beneath the design is engraved a musical score with the words of a song. A burlesque representation of the quack doctor James Graham (1745-94), who opened his 'Temple of Health' in the Adelphi in the autumn of 1779. Graham stands full-face; he holds in his mouth the end of the tail of a monkey which sits on his head. The monkey holds out a duck by one leg, which is saying "Quack Quack". Graham holds out in his right hand a circular box inscribed "Æthereal Pills". A medallion hangs round his neck, on which is a woman's head, inscribed "Female Historian". She is Mrs. Catherine Macaulay (see index) whom he treated at Bath, so gaining his first start. He stands between two gigantic men wearing large laced hats and long coats; one, "Gog" (left), in back view, the other, "Magog" (right), stands full-face holding a paper inscribed "Sketch of the Plan of the Temple of Health". These represent the gigantic footmen or porters who were among the attractions of the 'Temple' and who distributed bills advertising the establishment, see BMSat 6346 and Angelo, 'Reminiscences', 1904, i. 97. Between them, and above Graham's head, the words "Hail Wonderous Combination!" are etched. By the left margin of the print, two men are gazing at the spectacle, one clasps his hands in admiration or supplication. On the opposite side is a man grinning with two small boys who laugh and point, one of them a little chimney-sweep with brushes and sack., and This electronic record is derived from historic data and may not reflect our current information. Review and updating of records is ongoing.
Publisher:
Publish'd as the Act directs. Oct 30th. 1780. P. Mitchel North Audley St. Grosvenor Sq.
Subject (Name):
Graham, James, 1745-1794.
Subject (Topic):
Quacks and quackery, Physicians, Porters, Monkeys, Chimney sweeps, Musical notation, Childrens, Ducks, and Medals
