‘Universal Pills No 4.’, c1830-1840

Description

Mounted coloured lithograph, entitled ‘UNIVERSAL PILLS No 4.’, designed and lithographed by anon and published by William Spooner, circa 1830-1840.

Here shows a man, in shirtsleeves and cap looking aghast at his reflection in a dressing-table mirror. His nose has turned into an enormous carrot as a result of taking too many Morison’s Pills.

He says “Here’s a precious go them hinfernal vegetable pills have taken root in my nose. It was reddish before but now its carotty !” At least 25 caricatures were published during the 1830s ridiculing Morison’s Pills.