Historical information

This is a copy of a print originally published in 1774 by James Bretherton (British, active 1755–1799), after Henry William Bunbury (British, 1750–1811). This copy of a print originally designed by James Bretherton in 1774 displays the way in which 'manufacturers would frequently claim that only their medicine was genuine, and that other similar preparations were an inferior ‘quack’ copy' (Royal Pharmaceutical Society). In 1774 scurvy was a prominent disease caused by a severe lack of vitamin C, and antiscorbutic pills are an antioxidant medication used to prevent low vitamin C levels.

Physical description

This print is black and white and is framed. The scene depicts two male 'quack' doctors (at the left of the image) arguing over the relative merits of their antiscorbutic pills. The two men appear to have set up business directly opposite each other in the street, as a sign on the upper left of the image reads 'Dr WALKER'S/VERITABLE/ANTISCORBUTIC/PILLS/Beware of Impostors.' Whilst a sign on the upper right of the image, which is directly opposite, reads 'TRUE/ANTISCORBUTIC/PILLS.' Directly behind the two men arguing, two dogs can be seen fighting each other. To the right of the men, the two wives of the doctors are also having a violent altercation, and to their right, two cats have their backs arched and are hissing at each other. There is a shield emblem resembling a coat of arms 'hanging' from the top centre of the image. The shield features images of two ducks, above the phrase 'QUACK QUACK QUACK'. The title of the image is printed at bottom centre of image and reads 'MUTUAL ACCUSATION./Publish'd by Bretherton Ed. January 1774'. Text printed below image to the left of the title reads 'when once you've told and can't recall a Lye/Boldly, percist in't or your Fame will die.' (sic). The text printed below image to the right of the title reads 'Learn this ye Wives, with unrelenting Claws/Or right or wrong, Afsert your husbands cause.' (sic). There is small text printed below bottom left corner of image which reads 'Mr Bunbury del.' Small text printed below bottom right corner of image reads 'Js Bretherton f.' The print is mounted on card and housed in a gold-coloured wooden frame. A sticker for Gibson's Auctioneers is attached to the bottom right of the front of the frame, printed with the number '67'. There are two small auction house stickers stuck to the back of the frame of the work, as well as a sticker for the framer of the piece, Artist Framing Services. Two sets of D-rings and two wires have been attached to the back of the frame for hanging.

Inscriptions & markings

There are two small auction house stickers stuck to the back of the frame of the work, as well as a sticker for the framer of the piece, Artist Framing Services.