Two doctors discussing a patient who has a fever and a great thirst, the patient overhears and promises to cure the thirst if they can deal with the fever. Wood engraving by C. Keene, 1882.

Caption reads: 'Doctor (sotto voce to his colleague). "We must reduce the fever and abate the thirst!" Patient (who had overheard). "If you'll redooce the fever, gen'lemen - I'll uld'take - to abate the thirst myshelf!!"'