Here's a precursor to either Retch or Hoik from the brilliant comedy series This is Jinsy, which we found in Carols of Cockayne by Henry Sambrooke Leigh 1874.

An illustration from Helen by Maria Edgeworth, (1896).  The caption reads: "Her expertness at general answers which give no information completely baffled the two."

Did you know that the very first joke in the great comedy film The 'Burbs occurs in the opening credits?  The typographically literate will notice that the apostrophe has been replaced with a grave accent, alluding to what the Klopeks dig in their spooky backyard.  (Film still courtesy of DVDBeaver.)

Meanwhile, here's an illustration from Across the Channel by James Crowther (1888).  The caption reads: "The opened grave."

An illustration from Lilliput Lyrics by William Brighty Rands Illustrated by Charles Robinson (1899).  The caption reads: "The rising, watching moon."