Conspicuous in the centre of the plate, he is shown being assisted by other boys to insert an arrow into a dog's rectum, a torture apparently inspired by a devil punishing a sinner in Jacques Callot's Temptation of St. Anthony. A badge initialed with "S:G", on the shoulder of his light-hued, ragged coat, shows him to be receiving welfare from the parish of St Giles, in accordance with the Poor Act 1697, which required all recipients of parish charity to wear a badge with the parish's initials on their right shoulder. Hogarth used this notorious slum area as the background for many of his works including Gin Lane and Noon, part of the Four Times of the Day series.
A prominent figure on a plate is depicted being aided by other boys in inserting an arrow into a dog's rear end, a gruesome practice seemingly inspired by Jacques Callot's Temptation of St. Anthony. A badge bearing the initials 'S:G' on his tattered coat indicates he is receiving aid from the parish of St Giles, as mandated by the Poor Act 1697.