The Central Board of Health [graphic]

"Four over-fed doctors carouse at a table laden with rounds of beef and decanters. Each holds up a glass and gives a toast. The man at the head of the table (left): 'Long life to our Central Board--R |. "in medio tutissimus bibis [for ibis]"--as we say in the classics'. His vis-à-vis: 'May we preserve our health by bleeding the country'. The man in back view: 'I drink Reform in our Hospitals, may they close their doors against the public & the poor die in Hackney coaches'. On the back of his chair: 'Board & Lodging'. His vis-à-vis: 'I pledge myself to keep some cases afloat'. From their coat-pockets hang big bloated purses. Beside the first speaker a long scroll hangs from a writing-table (left): 'Post Mortem Appearances, want of Employment Poverty Starvation Quarantine Stagnation Distress Blue Ruin' [gin]. On the floor (right): 'While Drs differ & deny--The Country bleeds & patients die'. Above the principal doctor hangs a picture of a bottle (blue) emitting smoke, and with head, arms, and legs, capering menacingly. This (a symbol of humbug, cf. British Museum Satires No. 14507) is 'Contagious Cholera'. At the other end of the room (right) packing-cases are piled from floor to ceiling inscribed (reading downwards): 'A bad case' [broken]; 'Cases made on the Shortest Notice'; 'Per varios [sic] casus, per tot discrimina rerum" | Tendimus" | "By various cases & such discrimination | we get on." | Docrs Transtn --'; 'Dr Bolus Case Maker'; 'New Case' [twice]."--British Museum online catalogue