Emperor Of China
SIR G. STAUNTON related a curious anecdote of old Kien Long, Emperor of
China. He was inquiring of Sir George the manner in which physicians
were paid in England. When, after some difficulty, his majesty was made
to comprehend the system, he exclaimed, Is any man well in England,
that can afford to be ill? Now, I will inform you, said he, how I
manage my physicians. I have four, to whom the care of my health is
committed: a certain weekly salary is allowed them, but the moment I am
ill, the salary stops till I am well again. I need not inform you my
illnesses are usually short.