An old woman of repulsive and disreputable appearance sits full-face surrounded by quack doctors. Her cap is inscribed 'rep: bat' (batavian republic), her petticoat is decorated with the seven [the artist has arranged the arrows in groups of five, not seven] arrows of the united provinces. Her feet are in a tub of water. One doctor (left) holds her arm, the blood from which gushes into a bowl on her lap. Another (right) applies a cupping-glass to her left shoulder. A man (right) stands primly in profile to the left holding his cane; from his pocket protrudes a book: 'traité sur la reconaissance'. (he is 'citoyen l' who owes everything to the ex-stadholder. ) two military officers also watch the treatment, one (left) has a clyster-pipe under his arm. Standing behind, and on a higher level, is the zany (cf. Bmsat 6398, &c), holding up a club wreathed with a serpent in his right hand, a bottle inscribed 'tinct. Univer. ' in the left. On the ground is a prescription inscribed 'r. P m: mere' [i. E. Merc]. Text, 'jeremiah', li. 9. The delicate constitution of the republic has suffered from 'laccolade des frêres liberateurs'. After being bled and cupped a few grains of mercury will restore her charms. 1796
etching printed in red. Date: 1796. Dimensions: Height: 255 mm; Width: 210 mm. Medium: paper. Collection: British Museum. HET COMMITTE' DE SANTE' (BM 1851,0901.1325)
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