A London Nuisance

Description

Large carboys filled with colour liquids were often displayed in chemist shop windows in the 19th century. They became a popular symbol of pharmacy. Following the introduction of gas lighting in the mid-nineteenth century many chemists started to back light the carboys for greater effect. The caricature shows carboys exploding and smashing the glass of the pharmacy window, hitting a passer-by. The legend reads ‘One of the Advantages of GAS over OIL’.

Fact

A similar incident is reported to have happened in the South East of England about this time.