Practice and Theory:Involvement of Orthodox Physicians in the"Royal Touch"of the Stuart Period
The"Royal Touch"prevailed in Britain and France from the middle and late Middle Ages to the 18th century Traditionally this ceremony was completely dominated by the king to consolidate the religious activities of the king,but in the Stuart Dynasty from 1603 to 1714,the heyday of the British"king touch",the regular doctors at that time also participated in.In a nutshell,on the one hand,doctors played the role of collaborators in the"Royal Touch",not only responsible for pre-screening patients,becoming a bridge between the people and the monarch,but also linking conventional therapy with the"Royal Touch".Touch"complements each other to promote healing"On the other hand,they wrote books and said,using the ancient Galenic medicine and the emerging mechanical philosophy concept at that time,to endow the"king touch"with a new interpretation of the theory.This interweaving of"science"and superstition is the breeding ground for the birth of early clinical medicine.This is not just a unilateral appointment by the monarch,but may even be an active"action"of"orthodox medicine"to maintain its status with the king's authority.The practice and theoretical elaboration of"Royal Touch"by professional doctors in the seventeenth century clearly reflects the development characteristics of early clinical medicine.
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