'When a Man's a Little Bit Poorly'

Music cover with medical theme (19th century): When a man's a little bit poorly.

‘When A Man’s A Little Bit Poorly’, was a song which claimed that doctors only made their patients worse. The chorus goes:

“When a Man’s a little bit poorly, he makes a fuss, wants a nurse, Thinks he’s going to die most surely, Sends for a doctor who makes him worse.”

It goes on to list the treatments he receives, including examinations, pills and drugs, and bloodletting. The doctor in the song has to call a physician, showing the different types of doctors and levels of expertise available in the 1800s. The song ends with the patient claiming he got better without medical help and would rather die in the ‘natural’ way than at the hands of a doctor.