But the gift somewhere dropped out of the line of succession: the late… — The Devil's Dictionary

The Devil's Dictionary — Ambrose Bierce

But the gift somewhere dropped out of the line of succession: the later sovereigns of England have not been tactual healers, and the disease once honored with the name "king's evil" now bears the humbler one of "scrofula," from _scrofa_, a sow. The date and author of the following epigram are known only to the author of this dictionary, but it is old enough to show that the jest about Scotland's national disorder is not a thing of yesterday.

Place: ¶839
License: Public domain · Source
The text is given as in the edition, unedited.

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