The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-27


Medical practitioners, says DR.. r.
Shelton Mackenzie, are noted for their
libefslity. In evidence of this, there |
is TIE fact that even the most distin-
guished among them freely give their
advice (Which includes skill, time, and
compensation to the poorer classes. |
Sometimes, too, they exercise hberality |
to the rich. Two recent instances tf
this have lately come to my knowledge. |
Sir Henry Thompson, the most popular
among the surgeons of London, once !
on time, having successfully operated
on Leopold, late King of the Belgians,
for disease of the prostrate gland, re-
ceived the enormous fee of $60 900, with
the knightly Order of Leopold. He is
only fifty.three years old, and his pro-
fessional income is estimated at $780,
600 year. During the illness of the
late Emperor Napoleon III, he attended
him once day for nearly fortnight,
which, the distance from London to
Chiselhurst being some five-and-twenty
miles, occupied about three hours daily,
even with the assistance OF railway
travelling. Three hours of London
surgeons time may count as one-third
of his time. Napoleon died, and the
Empress Eugene, paying the surgeon
rather according to her former rank
than her present means, handed Sir
guineas (sl0,5OO, which, it must be
confessed, was a liberal acknowledge
ment. He returned one-half Of this
money, in kind and delicate manner.
Another instance, which occurred
within the last two months, still more
honorably marks the professional honor
of this practitioner. He was spending
his vacation in the Highlands OF Scot
land, now and then making a raid on
the grouse and partridges, and enjoying
! himself in total abstinence from study
and work. A wealthy friend Of his,
whose shooting box in the Highlands
was only q short distance from his own,
met with frightful accident, and the
family sent for Sir Henry, who, it may
| be, sighed over the fact of having his
rest.time thus invaded. The case was
so dangerous and difficult that Sir
Henry was compelled to remain in per-
sonal attendance on the sufferer for
nine days. At the end "he pulled his
patient through" as the saying is, and,
on taking leave. check for thousand
guineas was placed in his hand, with a
warm expression of gratitude for SER
vices rendered. 1t was firmly declined,
on the ground that the attendance was
given to friend, and during a holiday.
Akin to this, though on a smaller
scale, is the instance of an eminent
doctor Of the last century, who had q
patient evidently in very reduced cir
cumstances, who, poor as he was, made
shift always to have, neatly rolled up in
little bit of paper, the fee of one guinea
now, as then, the ordinary honorarium
for single visit in "-the old country
which, the sick man being proud as
he was poor, the doctor could not make
an excuse for not accepting. He saw,
however, that the patient did not take
the generous wine which, when con-
valescence had begun, was ordered to
sustain and invigorate his system, as
the poor man could not afford to buy it.
One day the doctor said
"If you will promise to take some OF
my own pills, in which I have great
faith, shall leave them for you as
pass by tomorrow for you are vel
enough to dispense with my visits"
The promise was given, and mex
morning the doctor left his box of pills
On opening it the patient found all the
guineas he had dispensed as medica
fees, with little note, insisting that h
must receive them back. There wal
also generous bank check for fur
ther sum. The sick mans daughter
feeling that poverty now was his chic
complaint, persuaded him to accep
the money as q loan, and in q shor
:. time, fortune having changed, the pa
tient was able and glad to pay bacl
what he had received from his medica
, friend.
In some instances physicians an,
8 surgeons accumulate Immense fortunes
=. though they are generous and kind
The famous Doctor John Radcliffe, VIII
i, died in n ,vember, TIA, left very larg
, property, sufficiently large to provid
81, 500 each for two travelling fellow
ships of University College, Oxford
50, 500 year toward mending the die
q of st. Bartholomews Hospital, and $50
. year for linen $25, 900 to enlarge til
. library of University College; $1,000
n year among his relations 5000, 90
=. for the erection for public library i
, Oxford, with $3.50 year to libraria
and $500 year forever to buy books. T
: this day the Radcliffe Library is one {
: the ornaments of Oxford. Yet this ma
a had very poor beginning. When h
n received his degree, college dignitar
: asked him where was his library, an
was shown few walls, a skeleton, an
an herbal.
Soon becoming eminent and indt
pendent, he declined the office of phys
! clan to King William JII-which wa
E Z no great sacrifice, seeing that, in th
4 4 following six years, that monarch pal
him $42, 900 for his professional assist
= ance, and Queen Mary gave him So, ,25
: for curing her nephew, son of tn
Prince and Princess Of Denmark.
> neighboring physician said he mao
: : $4,000 year by those who were unabl
to obtain admission to Radcliffe for &C
, vice. For going to the Continent to Sc
4 and prescribe for the Earl of Albemarl'
!, Radcliffe received 1000 and the offe
of a baronetase, and his patient gay
: him $4,000, a diamond ring of grel
value, and large sum to pay his tra'
: cling expenses. Finally, when the kin
was very i'll with the dropsy, and asked
: pointing to his swollen ankles, "Whi
> do you think of these ?" the doctor, VIII
: was no courtier, answered, "Wh,
= truly, sir, would not have your tW
= legs for your three kingdoms -
! This frank incivility displeased h
u roVal Oatient who never aft6rWal