The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-03-04
Doctoring Royal Patients.

II was matter OF wonder to many
persons in Paris that DR.. Fauvol. the
great French specialist in throat dis
cases, had not been summoned TO attend
the King of Spain at the commence
ment of his malady, especially as DR..
tnuvel had always attended Queen Isa-
bella and her children during their resi-
dencc III Paris for any troubles of that
nature. But such proceeding was for
bldden by the strict rules of Spanish
etiquette, which prohibits one of the
royal family Of Spain from being ot-
tended by any physician who is not a
Spaniard by birth.
AT the timo of the last illness of the
young Queen Mercedes there resided in
Madrid Il German doctor who was csDc-
cially famed for his treatment of typhoid
fever, tho disease from which the Queen
was suffering. He had recently saved
the life of Mrs. j. r. Lowell when she
was suffering from violent attack of
that terrible malady. \ few days be-
fore Queen Mercedes brcathcd her last
her Spanish doctors sent for their Ger
man colleague and requested him to
prescribe for their patient without seeing
her. This he positively refused to do,
saying that he must examine into the
physical condition of the Queen before
prescribing for her. But that could by
no means be permitted
'Thcn," he said, "let me merely see
hcr--lct ME go to the door Of her room
and look at her without crossing the
Threshold"
Even that concession was refused.
"Ihcn, gentlemen" he declared, II
can do nothing. will not attempt to
prescribe for patient that | have not
even seem.
He Withdrew from the palace, and IL
few days later the young Queen WAS
dead. But the sacred laws of Spanish
regal etiquette had been preserved with
out Infringement. a similar affair, but
with II different d"nounmrnt, took place
go"d many years ago in Russia The
late CHarina, the mother of the present
Emperor of Russia. was, shortly after
her marriage, attacked with IL serious
affection of the stomach. Up TO that
time no physician could approach the
beside of one of his lady patients of the
imperial family nearer than ten feet.
The Empress grew worse and became
alarmingly i'll. The Emperor Alcxan-
der gave orders that Il famous physician
called BOtkin, OF whose skill in such
cases he had heard, should at once be
sent for. Botkin came, and, to the hor-
ror Of his colleagues, he walked straight
up to the beside OF the Empress and
took hold of her wrist to feel her pulse.
lie was instantly hurried from the room
and WAS loudly demonstrated with on
the impropricty Of his conduct, being
told that his imperial patient was to DC
looked at from II distance, and that he
must not approach her. much less touch
her. Botkin listened in silence to all
that the other doctors had to SAY, but
when the report Of the consultation was
drawn up he refused to sign it, The
Emperor, who was exceedingly anxious
respecting Botkin's opinion, sent al
once Tor the report, and on noticing
that the name of the new doctor did
not appear in il he caused him to be
| summoned at once to his presence.
"lour Majesty" quoth Botkin, frank
ly, 81 can not pretend to treat n patient
that am not permitted to examine.
The Empress is, | learn, in a very criti-
cal situation. think l can save her,
but to do so | must be allowed to go to
work in my own way
The Emperor rose from his chair,
took DIR. Botkin by the arm and march
cd with him into the sck-room of the
Empress and straight up to her bedside.
"Thcrc, Doctor" he said examine
your patient, and if any one prrtcnds to
interfere with you remember you arc
obcying my commands" The course
of treatment prescribed by the great
physician proved successful. The En-
press was saved, and that particular
ruio of Imperial etiquette was abrogatcd
forevcr.-Alrs. Hoopcr'& RuriS Letter IN
the Philadelphia Telegraph.