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Tabitha Grunt, or the Walking Hospital. George Cruikshank, Etching, colored, with pencil & watercolor, 1813. Subject: Gout, Hypochondria.
The Healing Arts: Tabitha Grunt, or the Walking Hospital.
Affinity
Art, Fun, & Nonsense.
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Tabitha Grunt, or the Walking Hospital. George Cruikshank, Etching, colored, with pencil & watercolor, 1813. Subject: Gout, Hypochondria.
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What an interesting depiction of hypochondria. This one seems to be lighter on the detail front than the others you’ve shown previously, maybe it’s so we can focus on the diseases written all over her. I like the dog, though.
The dog made me laugh, a little alter ego. There are so many conditions which can cause chronic pain, which simply weren’t known back then, so I think a lot of people got branded as hypochondriacs. Not that they don’t exist, they do, anyone who has ever encountered a hypochondriac knows that too well. Still, it’s a label with stigma, and people still have a difficult time getting doctors to take them seriously, especially women. Too many women end up with the “all in your head” diagnosis.
The doctor is just terrified. And confused. I get the feeling he’s shrugging while thinking of ways to escape.
Yes, he wants out. Although, I think a doctor would be more than happy to milk fees for everything, if his client was wealthy.