‘Paying in Kind’, 1823

Description

Mounted hand coloured etching, entitled ‘Paying in Kind’, designed and etched by William Heath, and published by George Humphrey in 1823.

‘Paying in Kind’ alludes to the large sums charged by doctors’ for visiting a patient, a lucrative practice forbidden to the rival apothecaries, who could only charge for the actual medicine.

A footboy, in livery, hat in hand, basket on arm, has brought a doctor’s bill to a convalescent gentleman. The gentleman sits in an armchair in a drawing room, wearing a patterned nightgown and a cap. He studies closely through his spectacles, with some surprise, the very long paper bill, saying “Tell the doctor I will certainly pay for the Physic but shall return the Visits!”