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‘Faith’ by William Heath, 1829

© 2021 Royal Pharmaceutical Society

Description

Hand coloured etching entitled ‘Faith’, probably designed and engraved by William Heath, and published by S. Gans of Southampton Street, London in 1829.

‘Faith’ is a satire questioning doctors’ knowledge and their ability to treat their patients effectively with the limited medicines available at the time.
It depicts a thin man standing by a window. He faces the viewer with an anguished expression as he takes a dose of medicine from the spoon in his left hand; he holds the medicine bottle in his right. The table beside him, and floor beneath it, are covered with full and empty medicine bottles and boxes of “PILLS”.
The caption below the patient addresses the viewer; “Bolus says that the last thirty doses have done me a World of good! I do’nt think so myself, but certainly the Doctor must know best”.