AAO 
desired his partner to advise him 
to be more cautious another time. 
A lady was one day very anxious 
to know ‘how long she should be 
ill_—** Madam,”’ replied the phy- 
sician, ‘‘ that depends on the dura- 
tion of the disease.’—‘* Much ob- 
liged to you, Doctor, for your in- 
formation,” was the iady’s wise 
answer. 
A physician should never negiect 
to take his fee; it is astonishing 
how the aurum sokdum quickens 
his faculties, and sets them to work 
with double effect. A celebrated 
physician at Bath, lately deceased, 
upon not finding himself better for 
his own prescriptions, said laughing- 
ly to a friend one day, ‘‘ Come, I 
think I will give myself a fee; I 
am sure [ shall do better then.” The 
Doctor put his band with great so- 
lemnity into his pocket, and passed 
ever a guinea to the other hand; 
this had the desired effect. The 
same physician, on receiving the 
last fee be took in this world, a few 
days before he died, said, holding 
it up with streaming eyes toa friend 
that was nearhim, ** Ultimus Ro- 
manorum, my good friend,”—The 
late Dr. Ward used to call physi- 
cians. “ the Scavengers of the Hu- 
man Race;” and so indeed they 
are when they condescend to visit 
a dram-drinking, woman, or a cra- 
pulous man, withthe apparent at- 
tention with which they would visit 
a person. in a pleurisy or a putrid 
fever. A late physician of Bath 
(who was.a fine gentleman, as well 
as a good scholar andeminent physi- 
cian) when sent for to a patient who 
indulged himself in strong drink, 
used to enquire of what particular 
liquor be was: fond, and to make 
him drink it well diluted with water, 
after he had given him a pretty 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
strong vomit. This, of course, ra- 
ther indisposed the patient against 
his beloved potation for some time. 
Dr. Radcliffe, who indulged him- 
self not unfrequently with a bottle 
or two of claret, was oace called 
unto a lady who had the same pro- 
pensity, but who was drunk. The 
Doctor, who was in the same situ- 
ation himself, but who little dreamt 
of the lady’s condition, approached 
the bed-side, and finding himself 
unable to feel her pulse, stammered 
out (speaking of himself) ‘ Devil- 
ish drunk, indeed!”’ The lady’s 
maid, who was present, thinking 
the Doctor had said this of her lady, 
whispered him, ‘‘ Indeed, Sir, you 
have hit upon my mistress’s disor- 
der; she is apt now and then to 
take a litle too much wine.”? The 
Doctor now had his cue, prescribed 
as well as he could to her particular 
complaint some emetic tartar and 
warm water, and bustled out of the 
room as well as he could. 
A very singular story is told of 
this celebrated practitioner. He 
used to go to some coffee-house in 
the ciiy, where he gave bis advice 
gratis, or for half a fee. A cele- 
brated miser who lived near Lon- 
don, to save his money, presented 
himself before him in a shabby coat, 
and with a very fine nosegay, which 
he gave to the Doctor (who was 
fond of flowers) telling him that he 
was a poor man, and had nothing 
better to give him for his advice. 
The sagacious physician, who knew 
him through. all his disguise, asked 
him if he did not live near Chelsea, 
and if he had ever seen Mr. 
(the disguised gentleman’s real 
name). On his telling him that he 
knew him very well, ‘‘ Well then,” 
added he, “ when you see him, 
give my compliments to him, a 
. te 
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