Oliver Goldsmith's medical advice rejected by his patient in favour of the advice of the apothecary. Oil painting by Thomas P. Hall, 1856.

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<p>Subject described in James Prior, The life of Oliver Goldsmith, London 1837, p. 105: "He [Goldsmith] had been called in to a Mrs Sidebotham, an acquaintance, labouring under illness, and having examined and considered the case, wrote his prescription. The quality or quantity of the medicine ordered, exciting the notice of the apothecary in attendance, he demurred to administer it to the patient; an argument ensued which had no effect in convincing either party of error, and some heat being produced by the contention, an appeal was at length made to the patient to know by whose opinion and practice she chose to abide. She, deeming the apothecary the better judge of the two from being longer in attendance, decided for him; and Goldsmith quitted the house highly indignant, declaring to Sir Joshua [Reynolds] he would leave off prescriibing for friends. "Do so, my dear Doctor;" replied Topham Beauclerk when he heard the story and afterwards jested with him on the subject, "whenever you undertake to kill, let it be only your enemies."</p>

Oliver Goldsmith's medical advice rejected by his patient in favour of the advice of the apothecary. Oil painting by Thomas P. Hall, 1856.

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