Athothis : a satire on modern medicine / by Thomas C. Minor.

follow his favorite profession; and popes, kings, and emperors, in case of serious trouble, were constantly seeking his pecuniary assistance and medical advice. I remember an amusing instance of the latter kind. During one of my transmigrations, I was a pet greyhound in the palace of Francis de Vallois, King of France. My mas- ter was quite ill on one occasion, and, as his Christian Court physicians could not cure him, although they used enormous quantities of rare drugs, he concluded to try a Jew. Unfortunately his Christian subjects, with the kindly charity which they sometimes display, had driven all the learned Israelites out of the country. So the king was obliged to send to Spain to his royal cousin, Charles V.; but as Charles had only one Jew left in his realms who was really learned in medicine, he concluded not to loan such valuable property, but sent in his place a devout Spanish Catholic of venerable aspect and strong Jewish features. " Yvrhen this learned Spaniard appeared before the Court, Francis remarked: ' So you are one of those few doctors we Christians have left who await the coming of the Mes- siah, as promised by Holy Writ?' To which the stupid Andalusian replied : ' I am one of those who do not wait for the Messiah promised by the Jewish law.' At which the king was well pleased, thinking the man an apostate, and exclaimed : ' You are very wise in arriving at that conclusion.' But the Spaniard unfortunately continued : ' We Christians all know that the signs spoken of in holy writ are accomplished !' At these words, King Francis de Vallois flew into a terrible passion, and angrily de- manded : ' You are then a Christian ? ' and the trembling doctor answered : ' Yes.' Whereupon the king, sternly pointing to his bed-room door, cried : ' Go !' Tell your