An undated drawing (probably 1830s) available at the National Libary of Medicine. This would appear to be a Dutch version of a German print by Peter Carl Geissler. See also the Portrait of a man protected against cholera.
“There’s a statute from the Ministry of the Little People that’s just come out.”
“Has it really? What luck! And what is it?”
“We no longer have to be vaccinated if we don’t want to; from now on we can get smallpox undisturbed…”
(De ware Jacob, Rotterdam, 1903)
Stargazer: “Damn, I see another comet there!”
(De ware Jacob, Rotterdam, 1910) (When this cartoon appeared in 1910, the last great cholera pandemic was slowly petering out. Halley’s comet also returned to earthly view that same year, an ill portent for some. In Dutch the word for body in “heavenly body” can also signal “corpse.” See also a Russian cartoon on the Halley’s comet theme.)
Our Editorial office and the ailment of the day.
(De ware Jacob, 1903)
What will I get for Christmas? A bullet, a noose, or the cholera?
(De ware Jacob, 1909)
“Be careful not to puke from that stinkadorus, because then they’ll put you in the barracks for the cholera!”
(De ware Jacob, 1909)
The major of ‘s Gravenhage has forbidden a large demonstration for Universal Suffrage and Voting Rights on the grounds that the Medical Inspector did not consider it desirable, at this time when cholera threatens us, to gather a great multitude of persons from all parts of the country!
(Abraham Prikkie’s op- en aanmerkingen, Rotterdam, 1892)
BRAM: “Halt, Royal Quartermaster! The law applies to all of us!”
ROYAL QUARTERMASTER: “The laws fall silent before weapons and trumpets!”
Cholera: “I’m just going to go; there is so little for me to contribute here in the Netherlands!”
Auntie Lien: “Are you leaving already?”
Cholera: “Would you still like me to stay?”
Auntie Lien: “I don’t know… since you’ve been here the authorities have been doing so much for the people. You are actually the only one they can be bothered with. You interfere so emphatically… and then we get good drinking water; you only have to stick your nose over the border and then garbage piles are cleared away, hovels are condemned, you are…!”
Cholera: “Oh, Miss Prickie! You flatter me too much!”
(Abraham Prikkie’s op- en aanmerkingen, Rotterdam, 1892)
Cholera to Mars: “If I don’t lend a hand, it’ll just be patchwork.”
(De telegraaf, Amsterdam, 1912)
The Spanish Flu (indignant): An open window — a bathtub! I shouldn’t be here.
(De courant, Amsterdam, 1920)
While catching a cold, you consider whether to try to catch the cat now, while she is hiding in the back of the garden and you might get a flu or influenza from it, or whether you will go to bed, but then have to go out there again later, when in an hour the beast will perhaps be meowing on the sidewalk ….
(Het Vaderland, ‘s Gravenhage, 1927)
“It always proceeds along uninvited routes….”
(Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië, 1921)
Mother: “Child, why don’t I see your husband? He must be cured of the effects of influenza by now.”
Daughter: “There is still some shyness of humanity left.”
(Haagsche Courant, The Hague, 1895)
Cholera triumphator
(Het katholieke volk, Hilversum, 1912)
“Your money or I sneeze.”
(Eindhovensch dagblad, 1931)
Sic Transit Pestilentia 