File:The quacks. (BM 1868,0808.4952 1).jpg

English: The two notorious quacks of the period, Graham and Katerfelto, demonstrating their marvels, one against the other, each standing on a stage. Graham (left), in profile to the right, is on a stage shaped like an E.O. table, circular and surrounded by the letters E.O. (Graham's establishment in Pall Mall was used for gambling, and E.O. tables there were broken by the Westminster justices on 1 Aug. 1782, see BMSat 6120.) He stands astride a long cylinder, supported on a vase-shaped pillar inscribed 'insulated'; each foot rests on a circular stool supported on a vase-shaped pillar, these are the glass insulators which he used in his electrical demonstrations. The cylinder is inscribed 'Prime conductor Gentle restorer Largest in the World'. In his left hand he holds up a phial or cylinder inscribed 'Medicated tube', he points at Katerfelto, saying, "That round Vigour! that full-toned juvenile Virility which Speaks so cordially and so Effectually home to the Female Heart, Conciliating its Favour & Friendship, and rivetting its Intensest Affections away thou German Maggot killer, thy Fame is not to be Compar'd to mine" (probably a quotation from one of his lectures). He wears a physician's full-curled wig, a ruffled shirt, and laced waistcoat.

At his feet stands a duck, on a label coming from its beak are the words "Quack. Quack. Quack", and a thistle indicating Graham's Scottish origin. Other objects on the platform are the model of a cannon inscribed 'Calestial Musick' and two jars, one inscribed 'Leyden Vial Charg'd with Load Stones Aromatic Spices, &c. &c. &c'; the other 'Tin foil or Antidote'.
Above the farther side of the platform (left) appear the heads and shoulders of the two gigantic porters who were part of his establishment, see BMSat 5766, 6346. One (left) labelled Gog stands full-face, a placard round his neck: 'Temple of Health & of Hymen', the name of the establishment at Schomberg House, Pall Mall, in allusion to his 'celestial bed' for the cure of sterility. The other footman, 'Magog', is in profile to the right. Attached to the wall above their heads is a stuffed alligator inscribed 'Cured of the Dropsey & Gout in the Stomach'. Beneath this is a shelf, on it are a pestle and mortar, a bust, perhaps of Galen, and a monkey seated in profile to the right holding up a phial in imitation of Graham.
Graham had lived for two years in Philadelphia and had learned something of Franklin's experiments in electricity.
Katerfelto's stage is a flimsy rectangular structure supported on thin planks, with cross planks, one decorated with a skull and cross-bones, the other by insects, &c. (a butterfly, centipede, moth, and worm). He crouches over a cylindrical conductor supported on a pillar, similar to, but not identical with, that of his rival; it is inscribed, 'Positively Charg'd'; his feet rest on the base of its pillar, a trident on its other end touches a barrel-shaped cylinder or grindstone which is being turned by the Devil, who says, "away with it my Dear Son I'll find fire eternally for you". Katerfelto embraces his cylinder with one arm, while his right hand points at Graham; sparks come from his thumb and forefinger, from a spike on the front of his cylinder, and also drop from his chin. He is saying "Dare you was see de Vonders of the Varld, which make de hair Stand on tiptoe, Dare you was see mine Tumb and mine findgar, Fire from mine findger and Feaders on mine Tumb - dare you was see de Gun Fire viddout Ball or powder, dare you was see de Devil at mine A------e-- O Vonders! Vonders! Vonderfull Vonders!"
The chain of sparks from Katerfelto's chin drops on to the touch-hole of a toy cannon at his feet so as to fire it in the direction of Graham. His attitude and profile express intense excitement, and his whole person appears charged with electricity; the hair on his forehead stands up, his long pigtail queue flies out behind him as do his coat-tails. Other objects on his platform, besides the electrical appliance which he is grasping, the devil's cylinder and the cannon, are a Leyden jar, a small rectangular box inscribed 'Arcanum sublimum', 'Mask'd Battery', a toy windmill, a square bottle inscribed 'Tinctr Aurum Vivæ', a small pent-house supported on a stick inscribed 'Thunder House', a bag or small sack inscribed 'Aurora Borealis', and an insect resembling a scorpion. Beneath the platform is a 'Reservoir for Dead Insects destroy'd by Dr Katterf[elto]'; insects are faintly indicated as if seen through a screen. 17 March 1783

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