National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-01-02
THE ICE IN CHESAPEAKE BAY.
Jokes on and by Physicians.

Numberless have been the jokes against physi-
clans and the art Of healing; one of the BEST be-
cause unmentioned, was made by French lady,
whom we may call Madame X, and who was in
the habit of consulting her physician, DR.. T.,
daily, between the hours Of 2 and 8. The Dec
tor was a witty and charming man, and they
talked of every subject under heaven. One day.
however, the Doctor came and was denied admit
lance. He thought there must be some mistake,
and ordered the servant TO announce hin again.
This time the lady sent down very polite mes
sage. informing the Doctor ''that she:was grieved
the pleasure of his company, but she was very
ILL.," Doctors themselves, however, have said
the hardest things of their craft. Rad
faculty "that he would leave the whole mystery
Of physic behind him, written on a half sheet Of
paper" The medical men Of the day revenged
knowledge Of physic. In the same way Nelson
was said by one or two enemies he had made, or
rather who had made themselves, to possess no
knowledge OF navigation. Dr. Radcliffe. by the
way had an extremely Objectionable habit, viz:
that Of leaving his bills unsettled In his day
each Londoner had to pave the street in front of
pave it for him. A certain pavi0r, who had been
employed by the Doctor, after long and fruitless
Of his carriage at his own door in
why, lyon rascal" said Radcliffe, do
then covered It over with earth to hide your bad
work" doctor" guoth the payior, ''mine is not
the only bad work that the earth hidesn "You,
dog you," said the Doctor, "are you wit? You
must then be poor. SO then come in"-and he paid
him. Talleyrand, less good natured, tested with
his creditors, and did not pay them. Avarice and
want Of punctuality in paying bills are not
often combined, your miser being m mortal dread
of writs of law courts, out Radcliffe is reported
to have been close-hsted, we'll inexact in his
accounts. Probably both the one tendency and
the other have been exaggerated by his de-
tractors; but there is a Whimsical anecdote in
reference to one of the Doctors supposed failings
which will bear repetition. Attending an init
declared, in an unusual strain Of gen.
erOsity, that he would receive no fee.
At last, when the cure was complete and the
physician was taking his leave, II have put
every days fee," said the patient, sin this purse
my dear Doctor, nor must your goodness get the
better of my gratitude" The Doctor eyed the
purse, counted the days of his attendance in n
moment, and then, extending his hand by a kind
OF professional mechanical motion, replied, well
can hold out no longer; single. ] could have
refused the guineas, but altogether they are
irresistible" That was not bad Joke on the
In edical profession which was made by a clergy
man, in the time of Cromwell, who was de-
prtYed of his living for nonconformity. This
pdfson, a harmless man enough, went about say.
Ing to his friends "That IL he was deprived it
should cost q hundred men their lives" Sum
moned before q Magistrate, he thus interpreted
his words: Should lose my benefce l am re-
solved to practice physic, and then l may, If
get patients, kill hundred men."-CornhW
MdgdSiRe.