The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-01-21
DR.. BOTKINE'S. DEATH
Much Sorrow and Regret Elk
pressed at st. Petersburg.
SIBERIAN NIHILISTS AT WORK
Wilds-Where the Revolutionary Doc
uments Came From.

lSpecialto TIE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch
ST. PETERSBURG. JAN 19-[Special cable
to the New York Tribune. The death of
DIR. Botkine, at Mento, last week has
caused much sorrow and regret here. The
doctor was the most eminent and Justly
celebrated medical authority of the empire,
and his reputation was of an international
nature. He was the favorite physician of
the late Czarlna, over whom he acquired the
most extraordinary influence. A curious
story is told Of the circumstances which
led to his appointment to court. The EN-
press, besides being. afflicted with consump-
ton was suffering from disease of the
heart. Like many other inyalids, she was
Tor ever convinced that the physicians in
attendance failed to understand her case,
state of things due more to the extraordi-
nary modesty of her majesty than to any
ignorance on the part of the DOCTOR
she was so devout and extremely
plous that she could not be pre-
vailed upon TO permit to an ex-
animation of her chest in the ordinary
manner. Ever on the lookout for physi-
clan who would unders tand her case, she
readily granted permission to princess,
one of her ladies in waiting. to present to
her young and at that time unknown
doctor, named Botkine, who had effected
marvellous cure in the case of the prin-
cess daughter. DR.. Botkine came and
created most favorable impression upon
her majesty, until the moment when he
asked her to remove the bopiece of her
dress in order to enable him to examine
her chest. She at once refused to comply
with his wishes and said that all physi-
cans that had attended her until then had
prescribed for her without requiring
''ANY SUCH IsrMoDEsT DISPLAY
If your majesty declines, l must refuse
either to advise or to prescribe" said
Botklne with the great dignity" it is i'm
possible for any one to diagnose your case
without thorough examination and be-
fore the astonished Empress could utter a
word he began bowling himself out and
backed himself almost into the arms of
Alexander ii, who was Just entering, hay
ing heard from the ladies in the anti
chamber that the doctor was with his wife.
The Car aske&cheerly of DR.. Botkine how
he found the Empress, and then: perceiving
the latter s disconnected look, inquired what
happened. The young doctor replied that
her majesty had refused to permit him or
any other physician to examine her chest
In the customary manner, and that under
| the circumstances he could not conscien-
ously either diagnose her case or prescribe
Tor 1T. Struck by the young mans indie
pendence, the Car dismissed him in the
most kindly manner, with instructions to
call at the palace on the following day at
noon.
Dr. Botkine made his appearance at the
appointed time, and was received by the
Emperor and conducted by him to the
| Czarina, who had been meantime prevailed
upon by her husband to submit to the
examination. The remedies subsequently
administered by the young physician af-
forded much relief to the imperial patient,
and from that time forth Dr. Boti5ine's
fortune and fame were made The
Empress would allow no one else to attend
her and he remained with her until her
death at Nice. Subsequently he sat up in
private practice here, although still retain
ing his court appointment and favor of the
| imperial family His usual fee TO" con-
sultation was 100 rubles One day he was
visited by Prince Dermdoff, who was as
mean and avaricious as he was rich After
having prescribed the necessary remedies.
DR.. Botkine noticed that Prince Dermdof1
had extracted two five ruble notes from
his purse and that he was about to tender
them in payment of the consultation
Thanks, no nothing at all, my dear
Prince" he exclaimed in the most kindly
and even effectionate manner, 'You ought
to know that 1 never accept any fee from
the poor"