Rival Doctors.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2916, 5 June 1888, Page 2

Rival Doctors.

There lias been some excitement in medical circles anent the election of a President of the Royal College of Physicians, a position which is the blue ribbon of English medicine, Ever since the College was re-constituted in 1800 it has been the custom to re-elect tho President annually for about fiye years, Sir William Jenher, on account of his exceptional eminence and commanding position, being re-elected seven times. Indeed, if he had not insisted on descending from tho chair, there is no telline how long his brethern ivould had him to rule over them. But he felt it incumbent on him to retire. Personal devotion to the Queen enjoins him to husband tho remainder of his strength, life, and skill for any service that ,may be required of him in guarding Her Majesty's health, which will be for the futuro his engrossing care, The choice of the college, oddly enough, lay practically between an Irishman and a Scotchman, Dr Quain and Sir Andrew Clarke. Both are fashionable physicians, but in a very different sense of the word. Dr Quain is the favorite and companion of wordlings and beauties Sir Andrew Clarke is beloved of" draw-ing-room meetings" and of combinations for the amelioration of all sorts and conditions of men. Ho is budy physician to Mr Gladstone, with whose family he first came in contact in consequence of an eloquent and pious address he delivered at a philanthropic meeting whero Mrs Gladstone happened to be upon the platform. Another point on which the two favorites were strongly contrasted was upon the burning question of alcohol, for whereas {Sir Andrew Clarke is a fanatical champion of abstinence, Dr Quain both by example and humorous precept, gives force to the Scriptural truth that wine gladdens the heart of man. •' Five passes of champagne, dear tody," in his usual (gratuitous) prescription to any fair patient whom he may meet at a dinner party. Of Sir Andrew Clarke's ignorance of all that appertains to the subject of wine 'a curious story is told, He was lately called on by a wealthy man, who had practically brought himself to death's door by indulgence in generous livinc of all kinds, Sir Andrew Clarke with an air of sanctified frankness which is one of his most effective traits, told him that he was beyond cure—" indeed, so bad are you," he added, "that I don't see any harm in your continuing to drink wine. It may, in fact, postpone your end. Drink claret-but, mind, good claretnothing inferior or unsound," " About how much do you suppose I ought to pay for it?" inquired the patient, who had spent a fortune in collecting the choicest vintages of the world, " Well," said Bir Andrew Clarke, "I shouldn't pay a penny less than sixteen shillings a dozen for it." Vintage claret, I should perhaps, explain, costs in this country ironi 72s to 144s a dozen, All below that is liable to be contemptuously styled by connoisseurs, " Gladstone claret," a name given to cheaper wines which came in through Mr Gladstone's Budget of 1801. Gladstone claret goes as low as 9s the dozen,