I AM JOE'S FEAR OF DISEASE:
OUTER RING
The outermost gold frame is inscribed with Thai writing that describes Coleman’s most deadly food allergies. Coleman and Ward carried this text with them on their honeymoon in Thailand to give to waiters at restaurants.
Syphilis spirochetes.
Coleman’s hospital wristband.
Acanthocytosis.
Calcium oxalate crystals in cartilage.
Another wristband.
Mouth of urethra showing a stream of indigo carmine.
Armadillo carrying leprosy. Coleman’s IV, still containing some of his blood. Plague-ridden rat.
Coleman’s ear during an attack.

Astrocytosis in the cortex. A reaction to neurosyphilis.


					
Emergency medical technicians told the artist that if he had waited any longer to call an ambulance during one of his attacks, they would have had to give him an emergency tracheotomy.

				
				
				Coleman’s imaginary auto-x-ray, with hair.
					





					
Trichomonas vaginalis as seen in urethral discharge.

					

					
Band of skeletons singing a dirge.

				
			

			

				
				
				
				EKG monitor tab.
					





					
Healing through prayer, a way to cure ailments when all else fails. 

					



					
Elephantiasis-causing wuchereria bancrofti in blood.

					

					
Herpes sores on Coleman’s mouth and tongue.

				
				
				EKG monitor tabs. 
					





					
Medieval astrological chart of the body.

					




					
Lepra bacilli.

					

					
Coleman’s eye during an attack of mysterious hives.

				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
					

						Parathyroid carcinoma.

						Hospital ID card.

						Polymorphonuclear cells invading necrotic neuron.

						
				
				
					

						Unidentified disease.

						Coleman’s insurance card.

						Alzheimer’s disease.

						
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
				
					

						Monkeys with AIDS, surrounding Corky the Killer, a 1940s children’s book featuring syphilis personified as little cartoon characters that get inside your body and try to kill you. Intended as lessons, books like these inspired fear and excitement in the artist as a child. (See also key for Coal Man.)

						
				
				
				
			

			

				
				
				
					

						OUTER FRAME | INNER FRAME | LEFT INTERIOR | RIGHT INTERIOR
						
 

					

						
				
			

			

				
				
				
					

						
				
			

			

				
				
				
					

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