Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-19
Psyirs Phy.cian In germany.
w. ID. WALl.ACa.


1t is a reasonable thing when one is i'll to
have physician; and particularly in for
elgn country, 1t seems only wise to have the
best even where all are men Of learning as
they undoubtedly are here. The most famous
physician Of Stuttgart is, Of course, the Court
physician. and We asked our first German yisi-
TOR for information in regard to him. THE
Court Doctor, DIR. Won Ludwig, why, he is
very rich!r
"Is that all?"
"Oh no, very skilful and scientific. He
dimes at the Marquerdt, the first hotel in the
place; he has table to himself, of course,
and when he is dOue eating, be puts in his
pocket whatever he has left, that his dog
would like, beef, veal, or any thing of the
Ii nd"
"Yes, he is very dirty. He looks quite
greasy, and sometimes even ragged. He is
entirely without ceremony. One day, not
long ago, he met one of his patients, lady.
In the street, and she stopped him to tell him
about an annoying toothache, which she
thought proceeded from the generally disor-
dered state of her stomach Let me see
your tooth, said the Doctor. The lady open
ed her mouth. 'NoW, shut your eyes!' The
lady shut her eyes, and the Doctor decamped
It Is not to be presumed that a court lady, or
any lady, would stand long in the street with
her mouth open and her eyes shut, and the
lady soon discovered her ridiculous position,
but she is said 10 have been considerably dis
composed. Another lady, having sent for
him to her room, put her hand on her side,
and said, Doctor, have such q pain when
ever put my hand here Then, said the
Doctor, shortly, don't put your hand there
any more. Adieu.' And while the surprised
lady sat with her hand on her side, probably
unconscious Of whatever pain there might be
at the moment under her fingers, the laeonic
physicisn departed
1--WE don't want DR.. Ludwig, with his greasy
pockets, and eccentric ways. Who else is
there2"
At last we FIX upon DR.. Refs, for two rea-
sons: he is quick, and he gives little medicine
Dr.. Reis forthwith makes his appearance. He
has haxen hair and black eyes, a heavy form
and lively countenanee, a mixture, he seemed
70 be, of the slow Swabian and the sprightly
Frank. He is good natured, talkatiys man
and We are sorry when his visits are at an end
Now, hear our closing conversation:
'DoctOr, will you please tell me what owe
your"
"OWe me you don't owe me anything"
"For your visits, 1 mean, and prescriptions"
"Oh, let that alone until next year"
"Then you will be Obliged to send your bill
to America"
"I make no bills Physicians never keep
accounts"
We remember now that the distinguished
occulist in Berlin, Won Graefe, never makes
any charge, his services to the Door being
gratis, and compensated by the free gifts Of
the rich. We remember, too, that Won Graefe
Is said TO complain Of the stinginess of Ameri-
cans. But we make no allusion to Won Graefe
We simply ask:
SIS it not the custom in Germany to pay
physicians !''
"It is not the custom to ask them for their
bill, as if they were shOemakers. The physi-
clans services are those of friend, and he is
treated Accordingly"
Somewhat sbashed, We lay down our purse
but unwilling to give up the matter, we re-
mark: I've pay doctors in our country. We
don't ask them as soon as we recover, for their
ollls, 1t Is true; but when they want money,
or at regular periods, they send their bills to
u.s."
L assure you, German physicians, keep no
accounts They receive an Acknowledgement
Of their services, If il is sent them but if il is
not sent, they say nothing"
The doctor departs, and we ponder on the
question, How much do We owe him? We ask
syoung German gentlemen who calls.
Oh, give him just what you choose ?"
We ask our landlady
Act exactly according to your own plea
sure, rather too much, however, than too
little.''
Don't we feel informed? Pray, tell us
what is too much and what too little'
"The law requires that for every visit of q
teen cents. This is the lowest amount that is
ever psid, ard this is very seldom enforced
know families in comfort Ible circums tanees
who never pay anything for medical services,
which they frequently receive. The physiciaL
prefers being defrauded Of his dues to the OBJ
loquy a law process brings upon him. 1t is an
1nconVenient custom both for patient and doc
tor. The patient, no matter how i'll, must
keep an account Of the number of visits, yet,
with the utmost desire to be just, feels en-
barrassed when the acknowledgements is m ade
Now" continued our lsndIsdy, 'I have been
III, as you know, eight months, confined to my
bed six months OF the time, and my physician
has shown every possible kindness and atten-
tion. certainly am greatly indebted to him,
but do not know what 10 pay him.
We made no remark, but we could not avoid
thinking: If you German people could just get
the word comfort int your language. and the
idea into your heads, you would know what
TO pay your doctors, and would rid yourselves
Of thousand disagreeable things.-COHgrsga-
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