Chapter Q to Queen of Song of Q by Brewer's Readers Handbook

(The “Ralph” referred to is Ralph Montagu, son of Edward Montagu, created viscount in 1682, and duke of Montagu in 1705. He died 1709.)

(20) Rock (Dr. Richard) professed to cure every disease, at any stage thereof. According to his bills, “Be your disorder never so far gone, I can cure you.” He was short in stature and fat, always wore a white three-tailed wig, nicely combed and frizzed upon each cheek, carried a cane, and waddled in his gait (eighteenth century).

Dr. Rock, F.U.N., never wore a hat. He is usually drawn at the top of his own bills sitting in an armchair, holding a little bottle between his finger and thumb, and surrounded with rotten teeth, nippers, pills, and gallipots.—Goldsmith: A Citizen of the World, lxviii. (1759).

(21) Smith (Dr.), who went about the country in the eighteenth century in his coach with four outriders. He dressed in black velvet, and cured any disease for sixpence. “His amusements on the stage were well worth the sixpence which he charged for his box of pills.”

As I was sitting at the George inn, I saw a coach with six bay horses, a calash and four, a chaise and four, enter the inn, in yellow livery turned up with red; and four gentlemen on horseback, in blue, trimmed with silver. As yellow is the colour given by the dukes in England, I went out to see what duke it was, but there was no coronet on the coach, only a plain coat-of-arms, with the motto Argento Laborat Faber [Smith works for money]. Upon inquiry, I found this grand equipage belonged to a mountebank named Smith.—A Tour through England (1723).

(22) Solomon (Dr.), eighteenth century. His “anti-impetigines” was simply a solution of bichloride of mercury coloured.

(23) Taylor (Dr. Chevalier John). He called himself “Opthalminator, Pontificial, Imperial, and Royal.” It is said that five of his horses were blind from experiments tried by him on their eyes (died 1767).

(Hogarth has introduced Dr. Taylor in his “Undertakers’ Arms.” He is one of the three figures at the top, to the left hand of the spectator.)

(24) Thornhill (Dr. Benjamin), “the seventh son of a seventh son,” and the “servant of his majesty king George II.” His advertisement as such appeared in the Evening Post, August 6, 1717.

(25) Unborn Doctor (The), of Moorfields. Not being born a doctor, he called himself “The Un-born Doctor.”

(26) Walker (Dr.), one of the three great quacks of the eighteenth century, the others being Dr. Rock and Dr. Timothy Franks. Dr. Walker had an abhorrence of quacks, and was for ever cautioning the public not to trust them, but come at once to him, adding, “there is not such another medicine in the world as mine.”

Not for himself but for his country he prepares his gallipot, and seals up his precious drops for any country or any town, so great is his zeal and philanthropy.—Goldsmith: A Citizen of the World, lxviii. (1759).

(27) Ward (Dr.), a footman, famous for his “friars’ balsam.” He was called in to prescribe to George II., and died 1761. Dr. Ward had a claret stain on his left cheek, and in Hogarth’s famous picture, “The Undertakers’ Arms,” the check is marked gules. He occupies the right-hand side of the spectator, and forms one of the triumvirate; the others being Dr. Taylor and Mrs. Mapp.

Dr. Kirlëus and Dr. Tom Saffold are also known names.

Quackleben (Dr. Quentin), “the man of medicine,” one of the committee at the Spa.—Sir W. Scott: St. Ronan’s Well (time, George III.).