FLOYER, Sir John (1649-1734), M.D., physician and author, was born at Hinters in Staffordshire, and was educated at Oxford. He practised in Lichfield, and it was by his advice that Dr Johnson, when a child, was taken by his mother to be touched by Queen Anne for the king’s evil, March 30, 1714. Dr Johnson had a high opinion of his learning and piety. Floyer died February 1, 1734. Besides letters and other short pieces in various publications, he wrote—

Φapμaκo-Baσavos ∙. or the Touch-stone of Medicines, discovering the virtues of Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals, by their Tastes and Smells, 2 vols., 1687; The praetcrnatural State of animal Humours described by their sensible Qualities, 1696; An Enquiry into the right Use and Abtιscs of the hot, cold, and temperate Baths in England, 1697; A Treatise of the Asthma, 1st ed., 1698; 7 ’ Λβ ancient 'Vυχpo-λoυσla revived, or an Essay to prove cold Bathing both safe and useful, London, 1702 (several editions 8vo; abridged, Manchester, 1844, 12mo); The Physician's Pulse-watch, 1707-10; The Sibylline Oracles, translated from the best Greek copies, and compared with the sacred Prophecies, 1st ed., 1713; Two Essays: the first Essay concerning the Creation, Aetherial Bodies, and Offices of good and bad Angels; the second Essay concerning the Mosaic System of the World, Nottingham, 1717; An Exposition of the Revelations, 1719; An Essay to restore the Dipping of Infants in their Baptism, 1722; Medicina Gerocomica, or the Galenic Art of preserving old Men's Healths, 1st ed., 1724; A Comment on forty-two Histories described by Hippocrates, 1726.