SIR HENRY HALFORD, BAR G. C. H. Benyttelferd PISUR, SON & CONDON & PARIS, 1838. PREFACE. DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON, in his Life of Akenside, makes the following observation : "A physician in a great city seems to be the mere plaything of fortune; his degree of reputation is, for the most part, totally casual; they that employ him, know not his excellence; they who reject him know not his deficiency. By an acute observer, who had looked on the transactions of the world for half a century, a very curious book might be written on the FORTUNE OF PHYSICIANS.” Many years after this hint was thrown out, a work of much merit appeared, entitled "The Gold-headed Cane," and attributed to the pen of Dr. M'Michael. It contained a variety of interesting particulars relating to the distinguished physicians who successively inherited that |