It is still a prevalent belief in remote country districts that certain persons possess the gift of healing diseases by touch. The seventh son of a seventh son is supposed to have this power, which was formerly exercised by kings. Scrofula, known as the "King's evil," and many other skin diseases were said to yield readily to this treatment. The practice of healing by touch seems to have begun in England about the time of Edward the Confessor, and was carried on by most of the succeeding Sovereigns until the time of Queen Anne, who was the last to perform the ceremony. Henry VII. introduced the custom of presenting a piece of gold to the patient, but Charles I. was obliged to economise in this respect, and substituted silver. Strange to relate, the two monarchs who practised this form of faith-healing to the widest extent were Charles II. of England and Louis XIV. of France, neither of whom can be regarded as a paragon of righteousness. The coins, which were specially struck and given to patients by the Royal healers, are much prized by collectors, and the identical touch-piece presented to Dr Johnson as a child by Queen Anne can be seen in the British Museum.
An Irishman from Co. Waterford, Mr Valentine Greatrakes, discovered in 1662 that he possessed the gift of healing by touch, and was invited by the Earl of Orrery to London, where he is said to have cured many people. He was greatly handicapped, however, by the fact that he was unable, like the Royal physicians, to present valuable mementoes to his patients, and consequently his practice did not last for more than a few years.
The Irish Times, January 20th, 1931.