Page:The healing art in its historic and prophetic aspects - the Harveian oration delivered before the Royal College of Physicians, Oct. 19, 1885 (IA b21908199).pdf/21

 in 1650, and supposed to have been among the last on the subject, thus enunciates the pretensions of his craft: 'If men did but believe what this art could effect, and what variety of wonder there is in it, they would no longer be bound up to Galen or Aristotle, but would subscribe to be faithful to the principles of Hermes and Paracelsus.'

Perhaps among the most curions of all the superstitions The royal that have debased our profession is that of the royal gift of healing. Commencing with Edward the Confessor, the touch continued to be practised by our sovereigns, though with many exceptions, until the days of the first George. Nor was it limited to this country. France claims Clovis as the originator, and the ceremony was certainly per- formed by many of his successors. In no reign,' says Dr. Pettigrew, did the practice prevail to such an extent as in that of Charles II., and it is not a little remarkable that more people died of scrofula, according to the bills of mortality, during this period than in any other." It may be further observed that surgeons did not disdain to re- commend this treatment to their patients. It was at the instigation of Sir John Floyer, a physician of eminence, that Samuel Johnson was twice 'touched' by Queen Anne; and, as Boswell remarked, evidently without success. This power has not been held to be limited to royalty: 'Even to-day,' wrote the late Dr. Meryon, 'in Scotland the seventh male child in a family has the gift of curing the king's evil by touch.'

The existence of these and a thousand other supersti- Credulity. tions, the record of which excites alike our amusement and amazement, could not have been sustained for a moment except for the credulity of those on whom they were practised. (4) The kind of credulity,' said Sir James Simpson, which the public thus show daily in relation to medicine, they show in relation to no other practical art or science. Indeed, if a similar species of charlatanry