November 18, 1844 (publication)

The Philanthropic Pharmacist

Honoré Daumier

French, 1808 - 1879

Even the respectable pharmacist can at times be a quack. Here a member of the profession recounts the lengths he has gone in pursuing the recipe for a salve that he is certain will outperform the rival Regnauld product. The caption reads (translated):

I have finally attained the goal of my dreams . . . That is to say, a fusion of wood lice and slugs . . . Since my primary concern is the relief of suffering and coughing humanity, despite the high cost of the raw materials, I am selling a box for only five francs . . . Half-a-box was enough to cure Mr. Ducantal senior!