culist, and was knighted
by Queen Anne. This quack was employed both by Queen Anne and George I.
Sir William could not read. He professed to cure wens, wry-necks and
hare-lips (died 1715).

... none their honors shall to merit owe--
That popish doctrine is exploded quite,
Or Ralph had been no duke, and Read no knight;
That none may virtue or their learning plead,
This hath no _grace_, and that can hardly _read_.

_A Political Squib of the Period._

[Asterism] The "Ralph" referred to is Ralph Montagu, son of Edward
Montagu, created viscount in 1682, and duke of Montagu in 1705 (died
1709).

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).

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 color 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).

SOLOMON (_Dr._), eighteenth century. His "anti-impetigines" was simply a
solution of _bichloride of mercury_, colored.

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).