Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-23
ANECDOTES OF DOCTORS.


Foremost among the old English physicians
must stand out that bluut, clever, irascibe
Yorkshiremau, Dr.. Radcliffe, whose memory
the great library at Oxford (for which be be-
quea,hed forty thousand pounds) will never
allow to perish Though there was, perhaps,
certain pride about his honest buutness, we
must respect the man who could tell the truth
even to royal patients
Two years alter his arrival in London, Rad.
cliffe was appointed physician to the Princess
Anne of Denmark; and soon after the acces-
sion of King William, was rewarded for the
cure of TWO of Williams favorites by pre-
sent OF FIVE hundred guioeas from the Prlvy
purse. Though refusing the post OF court ply
siciap, Radcliffe is said to have received from
the king 10 six years nearly eight thousand
guineas. His gains, indeed, seem to have been
enormous, for, in 1851, be received one thous-
and guiness from Queen Mary for successfully
prescribing for the young Duke of Gloucester,
the sou of the Princess Anue; and we cannot
disbclieve the story that Dr. Gibson made a
thousand year by receiving patients who
we're unable to obtain admission to DR.. Rad
cffe
10 1894 he attended the good Queen Mary
for the small pc1, aud 90 merely reaulng the pre-
scrlptious of the other physicians, at once pro-
nounced her "a dead woman ; prediction very
soon verified. Queens and princesses might
shrug their pretty shoulders at bis name, but
they could not di-pense with Radcliffe 8 services
and we 6Dd him telling messenger OF the
Princess Anne, that she had nothing but the
vapors, and was as we'll rs aoy other woman 10
the world, could she but think 80. . He was dis
missed the court tor this hit. Even royal pride
L 49, 49, bofo tha dnotor
and he was, 10 1899, again sent for to see the
Duke Of Gloucester, whom he at once, abusing
soundly the two court physicians, pronounced as
beyond the reach OF medicine.
In 1905, King William gave Radcliffe twelve
hundred pounds, ahd made him the offer Of
baronetcy, which he declined. for having gone
abroad to attend the Earl oi Albemarle, who,
on his recovery. had sent him four hundred
guineas and diamond ring. Even the King
Radcliffe did little to conciliate, and told him
traokly that all promises to cure him were tu-
tile. He might, be said, if be gave up drinking
long toasts with the Earl Of Bradford (who
drank hardy live three or four years; but DO art
could carry him further. When the king was
finally seized with dropsey; and asked the doc
tor what he thought of his legs, Radcliffe
replied: "Why, truly, sir, would not have
your Msjesty'S two legs for your three king
doms.
Can we wonder that William ever afterward
refused to see the blunt doctor, in spite OF the
intercession Of the Earl Of Albemarle and other
MOBILES?
For many years Queen Anne remembered the
message about the vapors, and never sent for
him to the palace; but when her own hus-
she had again 10 bate her pride. But Rad
clitfe was both blunt aud rough, and told her
plainly that 90 medicine could preserve him
more than six days; and the prince died of
dropsy within that time.
Fond as Radcliffe was of money, he could
bear losses philosophically, if the story is true
that, losing FIVE thousand pounds IN foolish
commercial venture, he coOlly remarked in his
city tavern, that, after ALL it only amounted to
going up FIVE thousand more pairs OF stairs.
He was equally calm when be lost fifteen thous-
and pounds down and city bride. With that
strapge Inconsistency common TO humao IA
ture, Radcliffe, though he hated breaking q
guinea for small payments was charitable 10 a
large way He secretly sent FIVE hundred
pounds to the Nopjuring clergy Of Norwich,
and on another occasion three hundred pounds
to the poor Episcopal clergy of Scotland.
To those whom be respected, the doctor was
rough; to those whom he despsed he was ter
TlDic lrueCu. 1ySOu VI AAdShoSyS q aoeoAIooo
usurer and miser, once came to him disguised
as poor man, in order to save the fee Rad
cliffe recognized him, and at once shook
Deaths dart in his face.
'Go home, sir, and report" he roared.
''The grave is ready for the man who has rails
ed an immense estate out of the spolls of or
phaus and widows You will be a dead map.
sir, 10 ten days..
Tyson died within the time, having the
wretched satisfaction OF leaving behlDd him
three hundred thousand ouuds. Radcliffe
died iu TIA.
ECCENTRIC WEDDINGS A London paper
says: Some few years ago somewhat PIC
turesque procession might have been met IN
one of the most densely populated parts OF the
metropolis. 1t consisted of dozen couples,
headed by newly married pair, who were re-
turning from the church in which the wedding
ceremony had been performed The members
of the procession were protusey adorned with
artificial flowers, the men wearing garlaDds
round their hats while 10 front of the bride
and bridegroom marched the father of the
bride triumphanty carrying something like
small May pole Upon inquiry 1t appeared
that both husband and wife, as we'll as their
friends, were artificial flower makers. On
another occasion tbe clergyman was astoDlshed
at finding an old tin coffee pot forming prom
iueut object in the wedding procession, which
slowly marched down one of the aisles toward
the chancel Still more astouished was the
worthy minister, when, the wedding ceremony
over, the whole OF the party knelt down and,
with the aptiquated coffee pot iu their midst,
sang hymn of thanksgiving. At first be be-
gan TO have grave doubts respecting their sani-
ty, but few words of explanation speedily set
his mind at rest 1t appears that after the
death of the bridegroom's father, a man of
most eccentric habits, no traces could be dis
covered of some money which he was Known
to have secretly saved. Unwilling to marry
his sweetheart until he was enabled to PROVIDE
home for her, the son determined to roceed