Hand coloured caricature engraving "Taking Physick"/after Gillray (?Dublin issue of 1801) 25.5x19cm. to border

‘Taking physick’ is another term for taking laxatives to rid the body of poisons. Judging by the look on the man’s face they obviously tasted disgusting. A number of bottles litter the floor and mantelpiece. Self-administering laxatives was cheaper than consulting a physician.

This print was etched by James Gillray (1757-1815), a British caricaturist. Gillray lived above a bookshop belonging to Hannah Humphrey (1778-1822), who printed this caricature in 1804 and many others by Gillray.