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

Q to Queen of Song

Q (Old), the earl of March, afterwards duke of Queensberry, at the close of the eighteenth and the beginning of the nineteenth centuries.

Quacks (Noted).

(1) Booker (John), astrologer, etc. (1601–1667).

(2) Bossy (Dr.), a German by birth. He was well known in the beginning of the nineteenth century in Covent Garden, and in other parts of London.

(3) Brodum (eighteenth century). His “nervous cordial” consisted of gentian root infused in gin. Subsequently a little bark was added.

(4) Cagliostro, the prince of quacks. His proper name was Joseph Balsamo, and his father was Pietro Balsamo of Palermo. He married Lorenza, the daughter of a girdle-maker of Rome, called himself’ the count Alessandro di Cagliostro,” and his wife “the countess Seraphina di Cagliostro.” He professed to heal every disease, to abolish wrinkles, to predict future events, and was a great mesmerist. He styled himself “Grand Cophta, Prophet, and Thaumaturge.” His “Egyptian pills” sold largely at 30s. a box (1743–1795). One of the famous novels of A. Dumas is Joseph Balsamo (1845).

He had a flat, snub face; dew-lapped, flat-nosed, greasy, and sensual. A forehead impudent, and two eyes which turned up most seraphically languishing. It was a model face for a quack.—Carlyle: Life of Cagliostro.

(5) Case (Dr. John), of Lime Regis, Dorsetshire. His name was Latinized into Caseus, and hence he was sometimes called Dr. Cheese. He was born in the reign of Charles II., and died in that of Anne. Dr. Case was the author of the Angelic Guide, a kind of Zadkiel’s Almanac, and over his door was placed this couplet—

Within this place
Lives Dr. Case.
Legions of quacks shall join us in this place,
From great Kirlëus down to Dr. Case.
   —Garth: Dispensary, iii. (1699).

(6) Franks (Dr. Timothy), who lived in Old Bailey, was the rival of Dr. Rock. Franks was a very tall man, while his rival was short and stout (1692–1763).

Dr. Franks, F.O.G.H., calls his rival “Dumplin’ Dick.”…Sure the world is wide enough for two great personages. Men of science should leave controversy to the little world,…and then we might see Rock and Franks walking together hand-in-hand, smiling onward to immortality.—Goldsmith: A Citizen of the World, ixviii. (1759).

(7) Graham (Dr.), of the Temple of Health, first in the Adelphi, then in Pall Mall. He sold his “elixir of life” for £1000 a bottle, was noted for his mud baths, and for his “celestial bed,” which assured a beautiful progeny. He died poor in 1784.

(8) Grant (Dr.), first a tinker, then a baptist preacher in Southwark, then oculist to queen Anne.

Her majesty sure was in a surprise,
Or else was very short-sighted,
When a tinker was sworn to look after her eyes,
And the mountebank tailor was knighted.
   —Grub Street Journal.

(The “mountebank tailor” was Dr. Read; see below.)

(9) Hancock (Dr.), whose panacea was cold water and stewed prunes.

Dr. Sangrado prescribed hot water and stewed apples.—Lesage: Gil Blas, ii. 2 (1715).