Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustrations. See 53557-h.htm or 53557-h.zip: (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53557/53557-h/53557-h.htm) or (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/53557/53557-h.zip) Images of the original pages are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/goldheadedcane00macm THE GOLD-HEADED CANE. [Illustration: BOTANICAL GARDENS, CHELSEA] THE GOLD-HEADED CANE by WILLIAM MACMICHAEL·M·D· With an Introduction by Sir William Osler, B.A., M.D., F.R.S. and a Preface by Francis R. Packard, M.D. [Illustration] New York Paul·B·Hoeber 1915 Copyright, 1915 By Paul B. Hoeber Published April, 1915 Printed in the U. S. A. INTRODUCTION. It is very fitting that a new edition of the Gold Headed Cane should appear just at this time, as a memorial of the life and labours of its first owner, Dr. John Radcliffe. Here in Oxford, where his name is writ large in stone, we had hoped to have ceremonies appropriate to the 200th anniversary of his death, but at present the University has other things to think of. The Radcliffe Trustees have, however, arranged with Dr. Nias and the Clarendon Press to issue a brief life and an account of the Travelling Fellows, with whom his name is associated. When and where he got the celebrated cane is unknown. To the story of his life so well told here by Dr. Macmichael nothing need be added. There is probably no name in our profession with which are associated so many benefactions. The Radcliffe Infirmary, originally erected by his Trustees out of their funds, has become one of the most important of the county hospitals in England; but the Trustees no longer have any financial interest in its support. The Radcliffe Observatory was built by them and they pay the upkeep and the salary of the Radcliffe Observer. The Radcliffe Camera or Library, one of the most beautiful buildings in Oxford, was designed for the scientific part of the Bodleian Library. After the laboratories were centred about the museum it was found more convenient to have the scientific books close at hand, and one of the old Guilds, the Draper’s Company of London, put up a beautiful new building in which the Radcliffe Library is now housed, all the expenses of which are paid by the Trustees. Also under Dr. Radcliffe’s will £600 a year is paid to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. The property is largely in land not far from Stony Stratford. In addition, he left his Yorkshire estate to the Master and Fellows of University College, to provide for the maintenance of the Travelling Fellows: one is elected each year and holds the appointment, worth £200, for three years, one of the conditions being that he spends half of the time in studying abroad. These splendid benefactions keep alive the name of Dr. Radcliffe in Oxford and in professional circles.