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Artwork of a medical charlatan selling quack cures
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Artwork of a medical charlatan selling quack cures
Medical charlatan. Caricature of medical charlatan Georges Fattet selling vials of a " cure-all" medicine. Next to Fattet is a man with his jaw in a bandage, and a musician to attract the crowds. Fattet is claiming to have travelled around the world to find this drug. One stage of its manufacture supposedly involves boiling the extracts of certain plants in carp urine for 122 years. He is claiming that it can cure dental problems, broken bones, and can even be used to stop hens from laying eggs. As an added incentive for potential buyers, he is offering the medicine at half price. Drawn by Georges Frison (born 1850)
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6419989
© NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Caricature Charlatan Dentist Historical Image Quack Quack Treatment Quackery Selling
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This print captures the essence of a bygone era, showcasing an artwork that exposes the deceitful practices of a medical charlatan. In this caricature, we see Georges Fattet, a notorious quack, peddling his dubious cure-all medicine to unsuspecting crowds. The scene is filled with intriguing details - from a man with his jaw bandaged, presumably one of Fattet's victims seeking relief, to a musician playing nearby to attract attention. Fattet shamelessly claims to have traveled far and wide in search of this miraculous drug. He boasts about its extraordinary manufacturing process which involves boiling plant extracts in carp urine for an astonishing 122 years! Astonishingly absurd as it may sound today, he asserts that this concoction can miraculously heal dental problems and mend broken bones. But wait, there's more! Fattet even goes so far as to claim that it has the power to stop hens from laying eggs. To entice potential buyers further into his web of deception, Fattet offers his questionable medicine at half price. This historical image drawn by Georges Frison in the late 19th century serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of medical charlatanism during those times. As we gaze upon this fascinating artwork today, let us appreciate how far medical science has come since then while also recognizing the importance of skepticism and critical thinking when faced with extravagant claims or quick-fix solutions promising miracles without evidence or scientific backing.
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