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 notable individual in a scene is shown being assisted by other boys to inflict an arrow into a dog's anus, reminiscent of Jacques Callot's Temptation of St. Anthony. A badge with 'S:G' initials on his worn coat signifies he is receiving support from the parish of St Giles, as required by the Poor Act 1697.