Victorian doctor song

Subject: Victorian doctor song
From: GUEST,Len Kennington
Date: 15 Oct 25 - 06:16 AM

Anyone know what this is?

When a man feels a little bit poorly,
    He makes a fuss
He sends for a doctor
    Who makes things wuss

Subject: RE: Victorian doctor song
From: maeve
Date: 16 Oct 25 - 09:08 AM

Have a look at this link.
When a Man's a Little Bit Poorly

Includes lyric and partial view of the score.

Subject: RE: Victorian doctor song
From: GUEST,Len Kennigton
Date: 19 Oct 25 - 03:11 PM

Thanks Maeve - that's it alright    Very poorly reproduced by the V&A but it looks as though the lyrics are by one T.Hedson, and the 'experts' can't even be bothered to put a date to it But still very pleased to get it identified.

Subject: RE: Victorian doctor song
From: Pappy Fiddle
Date: 20 Oct 25 - 11:37 PM

Having a surprising store of computer skills for an old geezer (I wrote my first computer program in 1968), I used https://www.imagetotext.info/, with some manual editing, to get the lyrics. I think the first 5 lines serve as a chorus, and the last word in line 8 is probly "scold". I can read dots-on-staff, but it makes me feel like I'm eight again, taking piano lessons when what I really wanted to do was be outside playing, so I'll leave it to others to figure out the tune.

WHEN A MAN'S A LITTLE BIT POORLY
T. Hedson or Hudson

When a Man's a little bit poorly
He makes a fuss
Wants a nurse
Thinks he's going to die most surely
Sends for a Doctor who makes him worse.
I caught only a bit of a cold
My wife did make me gruel to take
Coddled me up between kindness and s?old
And with her own hands my pillow did shake

2. I three days with fever was furnac'd
Balmy sleep
To me'd not creep
Obliged to send for the Doctor in earnest
Hopes of recovery faintly peep
He with long and serious face
Pronununed me Ill
Sent ___ Bolus ___ Pill
Draught ___ Powder ___ and all the race
of Drugs compounded to make a long Bill

3. Leach'd ___ Chipp'd ___ Bled ___ and Blister
Slips and Slops
Eating stops
So low each Pill was a twister
I swallow'd about three Doctor's Shops
Countenance turn'd a cadaverous tint
A bitter pill
Grew weaker still
Thro' the Nurse had a bit of a hint
Shoud'nt die sooner for making my Will.

4. Worse and worse was my condition
My body sore
Life a bore
The Doctor call'd in a Physician
When a Man's &c.
Who Physick'd and Bolus'd me ten times more
Relations round with sighs and tears
Each Nephew ___ Niece
Disturb my peace
Even my Wife chang'd hopes for fears
Fervently wish'd me a happy release.

5. Then Physician's Consultation
They view my face
Hopeless case
Pronounced with much deliberation
That I alas ___ had run my race
Skeleton like my bones peep thro'
My eyes I fix
I hear Death ticks
To Wife and Friends I bade an adieu
Expecting with Charon to cross the Styx.

6 Wishing to leave the world in quiet
Of Drugs and such
I'd had too much
So I took a Meal of my usual diet
Got better and 'scap'd from Death's cold clutch
Physic since to the Dogs I throw
Happy and gay
I pass each day
And when I'm summon'd where all must go
I'm resolved to die in the natural way.