KINGS AND QUEENS IN: DOCTORS’ HANDS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXI, Issue 13370, 24 February 1904, Page 4

KINGS AND QUEENS IN: DOCTORS’ HANDS.

(Tit-Sits.) Very seldom in his interesting career has the Kaiser been placed so much at the mercy of the doctors as during the past few weeks, and there is every reason to believe that the slate of affairs which so unfortunately happened is intensely disagreeable to his Majesty ill particular. He, like the late Queen Victoria, has a considerable belief in his own powers of staving off illness through sheer force of will, and when these methods have failed is inclined to receive the medical men with somewhat b'aid grace.

Yet one of these physicians describes him as being a “ good and even enthusiastic patient ” ; that is to say, when once he sees there is nothing for it but a thorough course of treatment and a calm submission to whatever is ordered, he carries out instructions to the smallest detail, and with the most scrupulous regard for being thorough. But he is so inquisitive, one of his doctors said some time ago, that he is at times somewhat embarrassing. His Majesty crossexamines everybody in attendance on the intricacies of his ailment, and winds up by sending for a book about it, which he studies with flic utmost care. The nest time the doctors come he, with a? smile, often suggests an alternative treatment, “As in the case of So-and-so, with which, of course, you are familiar, doctor.” If the Kaiser finds himself laid up for a day or two the first thing which occupies his attention, after his treatment is settled, is the rearrangement of his plans of work and the division of his time, so that as little of it as possible shall be wasted., Of course, hitherto the ailments which have afflicted him have been comparatively trifling. The Kaiser and King Isdward arc undoubtedly the two best patients, from the doctors’ point of view, amongst the monarclvs of Europe. The latter, whose bravo bearing during his severe illness eighteen mouths ago will for ever be remembered., always persists in regarding any indisposition from which he is suffering as of the most trifling character possible. "VVnen completely in the doctors’ hands he encourages them in every way to treat his case with that same lack of hesitation which they would display if he were not King, but merely a subject. He carries out all their orders to the letter, aaid, desiring to take as pleasant a view as he can of .the circumstances insists on having only cheerful p»op l e * about him. Sir .Francis Lalving, whoso optimism and cheerful good nature ar- notorious, is a great favourite of his t]> B King of Italy is generally regarded by* the medical profession of his native country as an excellent patient, too, and big ailments are few, nowadays, notwithstanding his very-weakly youth. Both happy circumstances his doctors attribute in a large measure to the very rigorous treatment to which his military tutor submitted him as a boy, though surprise is f’.omoti mes expressed that this treatment not kill him.

Queen Wilholmina of Holland gives her doctors a good deal of trouble. She says that she “hates doctors,” and she will never endure their attentions except when absolutely obliged, and then they have to take unusual precautions to see that their instructions are carried out. The story is told that one time, when the Queen had evinced a marked disinclination to see a doctor on a certain occasion, and on his entering the room under pressure from the Queen-Mother, had exclaimed that if he advanced she would scream, tho medical man’s calm answer was that he could not help her screaming while he was advancing, but he ,humbly begged to ray that out of regard for his duty to his Sovereign and his own reputation, it would be necessary for him to administer' something which would make screaming impossible as soon as he reached her. Both the Czar of Russia and the Sultan are

bad patients, the'Npns being anxious an<i timid and vei;y easy in giving way to jndis< position, and the other so suspicious as to make the lot of bis doctors almost able. Ho has even gone the length of ae* manding that the physic ordered by one doc. tor should be analysed auji tasted by another.