Bleibach, The physician

The physician

Death to the physician
Zuem Doctor. Den leüthen thuest das wasser b'schauen, ist einer kranckh auff dich thuet bauen, Du werdest im helffen umb den lohn, Hilff dan dir jetz selbst darvon.	To the Doctor. You study people's water: If someone is sick, he will rely on you, you will help him for a price. Now then help yourself from it.
The physician
Antwort. Wenn ich würd' die ganz' Apothek ausfreßen, So würdest Du mich doch nicht vergeßen, Ich kenn Dich schon mit Deinen Listen, Muß mit Dir gehen, ach, will mich rüsten.	Answer. If I were to devour the whole pharmacy, you would still not forget me, I already know you and your schemes. I must go with you, alas, I must prepare myself.

The physician in Copenhagen.

Holbein, the physician

The doctor "looks at people's water" - that is, he inspects the color of urine samples.

The learned doctor is a regular victim in the dances of death. He has made a fortune from staring at urine samples from his dying patients, but when it comes down to it, he can't even cure himself.

In Copenhagen's Dance of Death you get the impression that he's frustrated by his own urime: »The water I have in this glass / is both green, red and blurred. / It signifies my life will be brief«.

Holbein makes Death hand over a urine glass to the doctor as a kind of challenge, and many artists have used that idea since then. Also here in Bleibach.

In the older dances of death, the doctor is considered a cleric because he has studied, but the dance in Bleibach is relatively new (from 1723), and here the doctor dances together with other citizens of the city.