Page:Lives of British Physicians.djvu/144

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126 BRITISH PHYSICIANS. had performed upon the Duke of Beaufort, he was called in to a consultation with the king's physi- cians, Doctors Bidloo and Laurence, and was so successful as to suggest means which speedily re- stored his majesty to a share of health sufficient to enable him to join his army in Ireland, and gain the victory at the Boyne. In 1691, the young Prince William, Duke of Gloucester, son of the Prince and Princess of Denmark, was taken ill of fainting fits, a complaint which had been fatal to several of the children of their royal highnesses, and his life was despaired of by the court physi- cians. Radchffe being sent for, first begged that the queen and the princess, who should both be present, would rely solely upon him, and allow the use of no other prescriptions but his ; and then, by the employment of a few outward and inward applications, restored the little patient to such a state of health, that he never had anything like a delirium from that time till the day of his death. Queen Mary, who constantly visited the child, was so pleased with Radclifte, that she or- dered her chamberlain to present him with 1000 guineas. His fame was now so great, that every body flocked to him for advice ; and it is recorded, that his neighbour. Dr. Gibbons, received lOOOZ. per annum from the overflow of patients who were not able to get admission to the great physician of the day. Hitherto, everything had prospered with him ; but in the year 1692 his fortune was chequered with a considerable loss. The doctor, amongst other acquaintance, had contracted a great fami-