Doctor Sangrado curing John Bull of repletion-with the kind offices of young Clysterpipe & little Boney- a hint from Gil Blas. (pl 274) / verso: A Phantasmagoria - scene conjuring up an armed skeleton.

Caricature by Gillray based on a character from the novel 'Gil Blas' by Alain-Rene Lesage where Dr Sangrado prescribes warm water and bleeding for every ailment. Dr Sangrado in Gillray's caricature is Lord Addington who had controversially appointed his very young son to the lucrative clerkship of the Pells on a salary of £3 000 per annum.


Plate 274, an original James Gillray copper engraving (1847-1851) from "The Works of James Gillray from the Original 18th Century Plates", published by Henry G. Bohn, London.
The plate has a b/w engraving on verso, as published by Bohn.

Addington bleeds John Bull whose blood falls into the young boys hat and also into that of Napoleon Bonaparte. Sheridan and Fox hold out bowls of hot water hoping for a share of the riches being bled from John Bull.

Addington (right) bleeds John Bull, who sits on a commode, exhausted and faint, supported by Hawkesbury. Addington, very erect, wears his gown, and says: "Courage John Bull - Courage!!!" Hawkesbury, drooping and melancholy, repeats "Courage Johnny."
John's arm is tightly bound above the incision by a tricolor bandage, a tricolor ribbon is tied round his tousled head. A diminutive Napoleon (right) with a martial stride and drawn sabre holds out his cocked hat to catch the blood that spurts from John's arm; this is inscribed: 'West Indies', 'Cape of Good Hope', 'Malta' [in large letters, see BMSat 9997, &c], 'Ceylon'. A little boy, standing behind Addington and clutching his gown, holds out his hat, inscribed 'Clerk [of the] Pells', to catch a stream of blood inscribed '£3,000 Pr Annum'; he echoes 'Courage'.

On the left stand Fox and Sheridan proffering bowls of 'Warm Water'; both say "Courage". Fox has swollen legs and holds a tea-kettle, his expression is that of calculating reserve; Sheridan bends forward with eager greed. John is a countryman wearing wrinkled gaiters. His commode is inscribed 'Reservoir for the Clyster-pipe Family' [the Addingtons].
Beside him lie his (damaged) hat and stick, with a torn paper: 'Rule Britannia an old Song'. 2 May 1803.

Reference: BM Satires 9986