'The Medical Student', sheet music cover, lithograph, England, 1875-1885

Lithograph, col.: The Medical Student, written by Albert Smith [c1880]. Vignette caricature [by Brandard?] of young man with hat at rakish angle, check trousers, smoking cheroot, huge ale tankard among bones and Quain's Anatomy; for sheet music cover, trimmed, 33x23cm.

This comic song, by the surgeon and satirical author Albert Smith (1816-60), was a comment on the appearance and behaviour of the typical medical student. Smith describes such a student as a wild animal, an irresponsible member of society who drinks and smokes too much. The medical student (who was always male at this time) is, however, a fashionable dresser.