ory.

How Percival Leigh (otherwise called "Paul Prendergast" in those early
days) was sought out by George Hodder, on the strength of the "Comic
Latin Grammar," and how, after a judicious pause, he joined the Staff of
_Punch_, has already been made known. He was twenty-four when, in 1835,
he took his M.R.C.S. He had been a medical student of "Bart's," but had
already abandoned, in great measure, the lancet for the pen. He sent in
as his first contribution the article to accompany Leech's "Foreign
Affairs;" and though he became best known as a humorist, as a doctor he
was in his early days equally to be respected. Mr. Arthur a Beckett
tells the following stories of his powers in the direction of diagnosis
and surgery:--

Although he had given up practice for a number of years, he was an
excellent doctor. Sir James Paget has told me that when he and "the
Professor" [Leigh's nickname at the Table] were fellow-students at
"Bart's," the latter was considered quite the best man of his year.
He was admirable at diagnosis, and I shall never forget one of his
prognostications. He was in the company of a number of
_litterateurs_ and artists who were dining together. A well-known
dramatist was expected, and did not turn up to time. The absentee
was allowed ten minutes' grace, and then dinner was commenced
without him. After a while he came in full of apologies. He had
missed one train (he lived in the suburbs), and would have missed
another had he not run for it. And then he laughingly explained to
"the Professor" that he thought he had sprained his leg. Percival
Leigh, who had been looking at him with keen attention since his
entrance, asked him a couple of questions; and having received
replies to them, spoke as follows: "My dear fellow, if you will
take my advice, you will go home at once in a cab and get to bed.
Send for your doctor and make him overhaul you. But call special
attention to the sprain." The dramatist, who was one of "the
Professor's" oldest friends, obeyed orders and departed. Then the
rest of the company twitted the doctor on the clever ruse "of
getting rid of one who deserved to be punished for keeping the soup
waiting." Of course, it was only chaff, but "the Professor" took it
seriously. "No, my boys," he replied, very gravely, "I did not send
him away on our account, but in his own