Die Mondsüchtigen

Object Details

Anonymous

Description (Brief): A cartoon depicting a dragon clutching a number of men in its arms. There are about 11 men in the dragons arms and one hanging on to its tail. The dragon and the men are 'spewing' German words from their mouths. There are also words printed on the dragons wings and tail. The print is hand colored with watercolors. The background is a green circle filled with goats behind the dragon. The dragon is a yellowish green with a red mouth.; The men in the print are doctors and the words written on the print are different "cures" for cholera. They include 'vinaigre de qualre volcurs' (four thieves vinegar which was thought to ward of plague), 'pulvis doveri' (an opium mixture that is a diuretic) and kajaputöl (cajuput oil which is an anti-septic). The title of the print, die mondsuchtigen, means 'the moonstruck people' (or crazy people).
Description: Satirical image of moonstruck charlatans offering quacks cures for cholera, probably created at the time of the cholera epidemic of 1831-1832. The inscription reads “DIE MONDSÜCHTIGEN / oder / allerneuste Gespensterfurcht ver der so gräfslich genannten / aber schon seit Jahrtausenden bekannten—Cholera.” This print has been hand colored.
Location: Currently not on view

Credit Line: Gift of American Pharmaceutical Association and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

about 1831

Physical Description: paper (overall material); ink (overall material); watercolor (overall material); white (overall color); black (overall color); blue (overall color); red (overall color); green (overall color); brown (overall color); engraving (overall production method/technique)
Measurements: overall: 28.3 cm x 21.5 cm; 11 1/8 in x 8 7/16 in

Related Publication: Urdang, George and Ferdinand William Nitardy. The Squibb Ancient Pharmacy: A Catalogue of the Collection

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Medicine; Health & Medicine; European Apothecary; Religion; Art

National Museum of American History

GUID (Link to Original Record): https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ab-b537-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa