The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-13
ANECDOTES OF DOCTORS.

AiuOuySt tIc IlOSJ IlOuOIcu VI tiIC
professions is that of medicine. 1t is
often also avery lucrative one, especially
if medical man gains a name in the
beau monde, and, still better is called
upon 10 attend royalty. 1t is said that
William III. during the first eleven
years of his reign paid the celebrated
DIR. Radcliffe on an average not less than
600 guineas per annnm.
AT a more recent date, royalty has
not shown itself ungrateful for medical
services. Mr.. Wadd states in his Mem
orabilia that the physicians who at
tended Queen Caroline had each 500
guineas, and the surgeons 800; and that
Dr. Willis was awarded for his success-
full attendance on King George III. by
1900 per annum for 20 years, and $50
per annum TO his son for life. The other
physicians had, however, only 80
guineas each visit to Windsor, and 10
guineas each visrt to Kew. A physi-
clans ordinary fee to the close of the
sixteenth and the beginning of the sew
enteenth centuries was 10 sRillings; but
il it happened that his patient was a
man of condition, the doctor expected
gold; and still later several pieces of
coin from rich patients. A good story
is told of Sir Richard Jebb, who was
once paid three guineas by nobleman
from whom he had a right to expect
five. The doctor dropped the coins on
the carpet; when a servant picked them
up and restored them. But Sir Richard,
instead of walking off, continued his
search on the carpet. t
s'Are all the guineas found?" asked
his lordship, looking round.
"There must be two still on the
floor, I" was Sir Richards answer, ".fOr
l have only three"
The hint, of course, was taken, and
the right sum made up.
Another physician, who had been ac-
customed to receive three-guinea fee
from an old lady patient, received one
day only two, and had recourse to one
part of Sir Richards artifice, and as
Stunning that the third guinea had been
dropped through his carelessness, looked
about on the floor for it. The result,
however, was rather Disappointing.
I" Nay, nay" said the old lady, with a
smile, "you are not in fault. 1t is
who dropped it."
How much of uhope deferred - is
experienced by many doctors in the be-
ginning of their career, before the gum
cas- become plentiful, is little known by
the public. 1t is said that the great sur
geon Sir Ashley Cooper, whose income
eventually varied from fifteen to twenty
thousand per annun1, earned five guineas
the first year, and in his fifth his fees
only reached q hundred pounds. But
the day came when patients waited for
hours in his anterooms before they could
obtain an interview with him, and even
then, perhaps, were compelled to go
away without q consultation. And for
some years one patient alone paid him
six hundred pounds annually for pro-
fessional attendance upon him at his
seat near Croydon.
Though there are numerous instances
OF large sums being received by doctors
for successful treatment of their patients,
it is rarely that they reap substantial
benefit, beyond their ordinary fees, in
cases of failure; instances, however, are
known.
A story is told of French lady who
put herself into the hands of surgeon
to be bled; the operator used his lancet
SO clumsily that, instead of a vein, he
cut an artery. This mishap eventually
caused the death of the lady. With a
mixture of humanity and irony, she
made will in which she bequeathed
life annuity of eight hundred ivres to
the surgeon on condition "that he never
again bled any body as long as he lived. -
A Polish princess, about q hundred
years ago, who lost her life in similar
circumstances, had the following clause
inserted in her viii: "Convinced of
the injury that my unfortunate accident
will occasion to the unhappy surgeon
who is the cause of my death, L bequeath
to him a life-annuity of two hundred
ducats, secured by my estate, and for
give his mistake from my heart. Iwish
this may indemnify him for the discredit
which my sorrowful catastrophe will
bring upon him."
Bleeding in those days, notwithstand-
ing its risks, seems to have been regard
ed as almost sovereign remedy for
present ills, and an antidote against
prospective ones A good story is told
Of Lord Chesterfield, and a friend of his,
Lord Radnor, who was fond of acting
the surgeon as far as bleeding was con-
cerned. We win give it in Mr.. Jeaffre-
sons own words, from whose interest
ing Book about Doctors we have OBJ
tanned portion of our information.
Lord Chesterfield, wanting an adj
ditional vote for a coming division in
the House of Peers, called on Lord Rad
nor, and after little Introductory con-
versation, complained of distressing
headache.
g. You ought to lose blood, then,' said
Lord Radnor.
"tGadl do you think SOP Then, my
dear lord, do add to the service of your
advice by performing the operation; 1
know you are most skillful surgeon
Delighted at the commitment. Lord