Racist lithograph print 'A black lecture on the cold water cure / No. 3 To be Continued' from Follitt's Black Lectures. Published by 'John Follit [sic], importer of French prints to the trade, 22 St Martin's Court, St Martin's Lane', 1830-1869. The title above the lithograph image of a smartly dressed, caricatured black man with arms outstretched standing in a bath of water, with two further black figures in barrels with taps running water either side. The letterpress text below purports to be the text of the lecture, using language and style that mocks perceived black ways of speaking.

This is one of four offensive caricatures that use ethnicity as the context for ridiculing contemporary pseudo-science. By making the lecturer black and using racist language and style in the accompanying ‘lecture’ text, the series attacks the fashion for scientific lectures and the subjects being presented. They play on attributes then stereotypically seen as being inherent to the black population, including drunkenness, dirt, thieving, lechery and lack of education. This lecture focuses on cold water therapy, which was a popular but controversial way to treat health conditions. The lecture text suggests water as a ‘cure’ for the audience from the stereotypical ills listed above.