THE DISSATISFIED CREATURES!--Cabmen should not complain of being paid at
the rate of sixpence a mile; for, look at some of our best Panoramas,
they only charge a Shilling--and they are generally "three miles long."
* * * * *
[Illustration: A SKETCH TAKEN AT GOODWOOD]
* * * * *
PETITION FROM THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
"_To the Right Hon. the House of Commons:_
"The Petition of the undersigned sheweth,
"That your Petitioners are members of the medical profession, and earn
their living by the sale of pills, plaisters, boluses, black draughts,
blisters, powders, and similar commodities, which are administered or
applied to persons suffering from sickness, indigestion, bile, lowness
of spirits, drunkenness, dissipation, and general debility.
"That your Petitioners are deeply interested in the condition of the
working classes of great cities--who toil through excessive hours of
labour, and dwell in close, unwholesome habitations. Your Petitioners
have ever found their largest and most valuable practice among this
class of the community--and continue to do so, notwithstanding the
miserable and abortive attempts of Government, and of weak-minded
enthusiasts, to interfere with their trade--by improving, 'as it is
called,' the dwellings of the poor, and preaching against bad drainage,
dirt, and drunkenness.
"Your Petitioners view with alarm and indignation the proposed
desecration of the Sunday, by opening the Crystal Palace and its
grounds, at Sydenham, to the people of London; and cannot but express
their conviction that it would lead to the infliction of serious loss on
the profession of which they are members.
"Your Petitioners humbly call the attention of your Honourable House to
the fact that they derive a very considerable revenue from the following
sources, all of which are threatened to be diminished by the increase of
parks, pleasure gardens, and conservatories for the working classes.
"First, From fevers and other diseases generated by heated and
impure atmosphere; from which even one day's escape in seven may
tend to relieve the present dwellers in the dark courts and alleys
of London.
"Secondly, From adulterated gin and British brandy, which are
consumed in vast quantities by a large portion of the aforesaid
dwellers in dark places, who seek in these stimulants some little
excitement during their brief repose from the daily labour of life.
"Lastly, From broken heads, bruises, black eyes, &c., all of which
require a considerable amount of medical treatment, 'both in the
hospitals and out,' on Monday mornings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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