1. 1829: Monster soup – Thames Water
This satire on the Metropolitan Water Supply of London was drawn and etched by William Heath. Although not dated, the Commissioners were appointed in 1827 and reported in 1828
1829: Monster soup – Thames Water
'Monster soup commonly called Thames water, being a correct representation of that precious stuff doled out to us!!!', 1828; showing an ugly woman holding a spy glass which touches the circumference of a large circle representing a magnified drop of water filled with grotesque aquatic creatures. A satire on the Metropolitan Water Supply

2. The Southwark Water Company was one of the oldest water companies in London
- formed in 1760
Had a poor reputation for the quality of its water – especially in London because people could see it
This image condemns the water company and shows the poor quality of water drawn from the Thames, near London Bridge
Presents John Edwards, owner of the water company, posing as Neptune. He is crowned with a chamber pot, seated on a throne on top of a cesspool, which doubles as the water provided to Southwark Water Company customers in south London
The people on the banks of the Thames are saying, “It makes me sick! Give us clean water! We shall all have Cholera.”
By 1832 the association of water and cholera had appeared but was explained by miasma
Cholera had first come to the United Kingdom in the autumn of 1831, and reached London in February 1832.  During those years there was much discussion amongst government officials on ways to stop cholera, including ways to improve sanitary conditions, but no water-improvement laws were passed.  Cruickshank's cartoon was either reflecting or stirring the public sentiment -- or likely both
A cartoon published in 1831/1832 by George Cruikshank. It shows where the Southwark Water Company in London got its water from.

3. Burning barrels of tar – believe in miasma (before Germ Theory)
Smells, especially smoke, used to counter-act miasma
Especially used in areas where animals were slaughtered/butchered and the meat kept e.g. Smithfields in London

4. 1862 – Last moments of Prince Albert
Even the richest could not escape disease – broke down idea that disease was caused by poverty and laziness
Queen’s Victoria’s husband died of typhoid fever in 1861 – caught from drains of Windsor Castle
1862 – Last moments of Prince Albert

5. Evil giant is Lloyd George and the spiked weapon is his Liberal Reforms budget/taxes
Empty dish shows lack of funding for reforms
Man hiding under table in fear is a wealthy ratepayer (plurocrat)
Made in 1909 when Lloyd George proposed increasing the tax on rich people to fund his reforms = not popular
Bread is a slang word for money
Made at time of People’s Budget – a tax increase to fund further reforms
The rich believed that supporting the poor would make them lazy and were against having their taxes increased
This is a criticism of Lloyd George and his tax increases/reforms

6. The two are political enemies
Lord Halsbury, a Conservative, is mocking the Liberals introduction of the Old Age Pension
The two are political enemies
The House of Lords refused to accept the People’s Budget
The cartoon is criticising rich Conservatives like Lord Halsbury. He is saying that the pension is small but Conservatives like him in the House of Lords had opposed the 1909 People’s Budget which paid for this measure
Pensions may be small but they are a great help to poor people and the Liberal government should not be criticised, it should be praised for bringing in this measure
The poor old man is very grateful to the Liberals for his pension even though it is small. The small dog shows the pension is small, but in the caption the poor old man says even this little pension is a wonderful comfort to him.
The poor man is grateful for his pension even though the pension is not huge. The pensions were not generous – 5s a week or 7s6d for married couples. Even so they made a big difference to poor old people