Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 1, November 27, 1841

A witty snapshot of Victorian medical training, this piece follows a nervous student as he stumbles through a bewildering hall exam. Surrounded by piles of pharmacopoeias, half‑dead plants and stern examiners, he endures a barrage of obscure questions, emerging only when the ordeal finally ends. The narrative captures the absurdity of the ritual with dry, tongue‑in‑cheek commentary that lampoons both the profession and its pomp.

The celebration that follows proves just as lively. Fresh from their certificates, the new doctors swarm a nearby tavern, swapping songs that turn anatomy into comic verses. Their “Student’s Alphabet” rattles through arteries, scalpel jokes and tongue‑in‑cheek rhymes, while the room fills with clinking glasses, impromptu choruses and the occasional police interruption. The whole episode offers a hilarious glimpse into the camaraderie and chaos of 19th‑century medical life, all delivered in the lively, satirical voice that made the original publication a beloved source of London’s humor.