Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-07-30
THE STORY OF A SURGICAL CASE.
Judge Black and the SurgeOns-Dr.
YandeII and DIR. Bayless-The Louis
willie and Nashville Railroad.

Vile ana nashville ka1lFORu.
From the Louisville COurier-J ournal. July Is
In the Evening Express of yesterday we
find the following paragraph:
1.-THE public are familiar with the facts
of the accident on the Louisville and
Nashville railroad, which resu ted in a
terrible injury to the distinguished Judge
Jere. S. Black, of Pennsylvania. He was
confined TO his bed here at The St. Joseph's
Infirmary nearly two months, and forty-six
days and nights of this time that eminent
surgeon, DIR. David W. Yandell, was uI-
RENTING in his attentions, and DR.. Bay
less the consulting surgeon, was there
whenever his presence was required. The
remarkable skill and science which have
made Yandell famous, saved the valuable
arm of the Judge against the opinion and
judgment of others, who insisted that am
putation only would gave the member and
perhaps life.
"The accident TO Judge Black was not
alone the result of his own carelessness,
but also of gross neglect on the part of
employees of the road. But the Judge
magnanimously waived any recourse for
damages, and the company in return pro-
posed to pay the expense incurred, inclu-
ding the medical bill.
"This was presented, we are told, in the
shape of bill for $4,000 from DIR. Yandell
for services, and 81 800 from DR.. Bayless
There has been no action taken yet by the
directors of the road, but they rather
demur to the charge az exorbitant. But it
is not often 30 great a man needs the atten-
ton Of 80 great a surgeon, and very unfre-
quent there is a corporation so amply
able to foot the bill. For the benefit Of
the medical fraternity we say, il there is
any other great man with broken arm,
we hope be will come this way"
There has been a good deal Of town
gossip about this fee of five thousand dol
lars which DR.. Ysndell charged Judge
Black for surgical attendance and service.
The matter has at length got into the
newspapers, and, though it is not of kind
which justifies discussion, being a purely
business and personal affair, il suggests a
word or two.
DIR, YanGell is an eminent surgeon.
| Judge Black is an eminent lawyer. Had
| Judge Black saved DR.. Gaudell case in
| law worth fifty thousand dollars he would
have charged a fee of five thousand dol
| lars. DR.. Eandell saved Judge Black his
arm and perhaps his life. He charged
five thousand dollars, and Judge Black is
abundSntly able to pay it.
in both cases the charge is made for pro-
| f. ional talent, experience and reputation.
We say nothing about the fact that the
bills are to be paid by the Louisville and
| Nashville railroad. The fact does not
affect the case. Dr. Yandell should charge
that corporation no more than he should
have charged Judge Black. In matter
| of life and limb the value of medical SER
vice can not be measured by dollars and
| cents. The surgeon should make his fee
| reasonable, and in order to determine this
he must consider his patients ability to
pay. One man might be AZ able to pay
five thousand dollara as another 10 pay
five hundred. The service rendered in
either case may be ineslimable la this par
tiCular case the service was ineslimabIe.
| Judge Black was in imminent peril Of his
| life 1t il admitted that he was saved by
the skill of DIR. Gandell; and a. Judge
| Black IS a very rich man, and the LOUIS
vile and Nashville railroad Is a very rich
corporation, Dr.. Yandell doubtless fixed
his fee accordingly.
| We see nothing extortionate in this. OF
course the railroad desires 10 make its
payment of damages as light as possible.
That is natural enough. But professional
skill is expensive, whether in surgery OF
in law, and if the case was reversed, aud il
was Judge Black who had charged DR.
Yandell five thousand dollars for saving
him valuable legal case, no one woulC
think Of calling it in question. As we sait
before, the matter il not suitable for news
paper discussion. We only refer TO it her,
because it has got into the newspapers an,
become a matter Of street gossip. Thee,
remarks seem, therefore, justified by tn
circumstances, if not by the occasion.