Interesting Anecdotes from the Past

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Interesting Anecdotes from the Past

Here, through this unique thread, we shall be sharing various stories culled out from the fields as diverse as medicine and fraud, and Robin Hood, mice and music, milk and beer-n-pudding, Kings and seers, doctors and humbugs and what not. These anecdotes, by and large, are from countries of Europe and Americas. For this, I am deeply indebted to Gutenberg.org who have made this significant work on the subject available for the benefit of those interested. I am talking about a rare book entitled “The Funny side Of Physic” written by Dr. A. D. Crabtre, MD. The book was first published in the year 1872 and runs into 700 and odd pages. The beauty of the book lies in its scope whereby it not only entertains and informs but also instructs at the same times. Let us now start our journey down the lane.

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Robin Hood & the Priests

A mirth-provoking anecdote is told of Robin Hood and two friars.

One day, Robin disguised himself as a friar, and went out on the highway. Very soon he met two priests, to whom he appealed for charity in the blessed Virgin’s name.
“‘That we would do, were it in our power,’ they replied.

“‘I fear you are so addicted to falsehood, I cannot believe that you have no money, as you say. However, let us all down on our marrow bones, and pray the Virgin to send us some money.’

“‘No, no,’ replied the priests; ‘it is of no use.’

“‘What! have you no faith in your patron saint? Down, I say, and pray.’

“In fear, down fell the two priests, and Robin by their side, and all prayed most lustily.

“‘Now feel in your pockets,’ said Robin, rising.

“‘There is nothing,’ they replied, plunging their hands deep into their cloaks.

“‘Down again, and pray harder,’ shouted Robin, drawing his sword.

“Down they fell, and mumbled over their Latin, but declared the gods had sent them nothing.

“‘I do not believe you,’ said Robin; ‘you ever were a pack of liars. Let each stand a search, that we deceive not each other.’ So Robin turned his own empty pockets wrong side out, then compelled the friars to follow suit, when lo! out fell five hundred pieces of gold.

“When Robin saw this glorious sight, he berated the priests soundly, and taking the gold, went away to Sherwood, and made merry at the expense of the church.”

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The gentleman’s dog

Dr. Meyersbach obtained his diploma in medicine about this time (about 1624 AD) for a few shillings, and without the rudiments of an education, made a splendid living out of the credulity even of the most learned and fashionable classes of English society, and arrived at the height of honor and distinction.
The reader must admit that diplomas were cheap honors, when one was granted to a dog! A young English gentleman, for the sport of the thing, paid the price of a medical diploma soon after Dr. Meyersbach’s was granted, and had it duly recorded in the archives of the college (Erfurth) as having been awarded to Anglicus Ponto.

“And who was Anglicus Ponto?”

“None other than the gentleman’s dog—a fine mastiff.”

But this question was not asked till too late to prevent the joke. It had the good effect, however, to raise at once the price of degrees.

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His last Joke

A celebrated English physician, who was also a distinguished humorist, when about to die, requested that none of his friends be invited to his funeral.

A friend inquired the reason of this remarkable request.

“Because,” sighed the dying but polite humorist, “it is a courtesy which can never be returned.”
Charles Matthews, the celebrated comedian, who died in 1837, put the above entirely in the shade by his last joke.

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Medicine, Ink and the Blotting Paper


The attending physician had left Mr. Matthews some medicine in a vial, which a friend was to administer during the night. By mistake, he gave the patient some ink from a vial which stood near. On discovering the error, his friend exclaimed, “O, gracious Heavens, Matthews, I have given you ink, instead of medicine.”


“Never—never mind, my dear boy,” said the dying man faintly; “I will swallow a piece of blotting paper.”

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Tooth Drawing

A snobbish-appearing individual accosted a countryman in homespun with the following interrogation:—

“I say, ah, my fraand, are you sufficiently conversant with the topography of this neighborhood to direct me to the nearest disciple of Æsculapius, eh?”

“What?” exclaimed the astonished rustic.

“Can you familiarize me with the most direct course to a physician?”

“Hey?”

“Can you tell me where a doctor lives?”

“O, a doctor’s house. Why didn’t you say so before?”