3-056-885 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

'The Royal Gift of Healing', King Charles II healing the sick, 1684. It was believed that the royal touch could cure diseases such as epilepsy and scrofula, the latter being consequently known as the king's evil. It is said that King Charles II touched nearly one hundred thousand people. John Brown, surgeon in ordinary to his Majesty and to St Thomas's Hospital, and author of many learned works on surgery and anatomy, published accounts of sixty cures due to the touch of this monarch. From 'Adenochoiradelogia or, An anatomick-chirurgical treatise' by John Brown. Printed by Tho. Newcomb for Sam. Lowndes.