The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-13

About three months ago, Jacob Mich
mans wife, in Detroit, was somewhat
i'll, and thought doctot ought to be
sent to her so he called at Detroit
street Office, and requested the physician
to go to his house. The call was made.
prescription left with Mrs. NJ, and
either the medicine was very effectual
or Mrs. nj. was not very sick, for, when
he called next time, she informed him
that she was all cured and he need not
come any more. Last Monday, Jacob
received by mail q bill from DIR. H.,
"due for medical services, $3.50"
Jacob studied long time over that
bill, and showed it to his wife, and
studied it over with her; the more
he looked att, the more it seemed to him
that there must be q mistake. The
next morning he called at the doctors
office, bill in hand, and found the pro-
prietor sitting there, waiting to hear OF
some suffering from green corn or one
of the other prevalent diseases.
Mr. Milchman laid his hat down care
fully, and handed the bill to DIR. H.,
saying, "You are DIR. H., L suppose p
eyes, yes, certainly, Mr.. Milchman
sit down. How is your wife ?"
"Oh, my wife is all right. You doc
tored, her, ell ?"
CT gave her some medicine that
seemed to work like magic ?"
Yes, so it did. That was your
bill, ell ?"
Yes, but no hurry about it, Mr..
Milchman I; take little time on it, if
you want to no hurry"
"That was right, was it-$13. ?"
"Let me see yes, that is the amount,
Mr.. Milchman but no hurry about
paying it, you know"
"Thirteen dollars and seventy-fve
cents for one visit That was pretty
tam dear, don't you think SOP"
Here the doctor smiled all over in the
most forgiving way, saying: My dear,
Mr.. Milchman, you are far out OF the
way. For one visit My dear sir, that
is the way with the unprofessional mind.
l assure you when you see the items you
will agree with me that the amount is
low, sir, very low"
ooh !" SAID Jacob, "there were items,
was there? Well, where those items
are ?"
SIN my memorandum book, sir. You
shall have them certainly, if you wish.
You want the items, do you p
"That was just what / want" said
Jacob, and apparently much to the doc
tors annoyance. He hesitated a mo-
ment, and then drew a small memo
randum book from his breast pocket,
opened it, and looked at Jacob, and
began:
" May-use of horse and buggy to
call on Mr.. Milchman, one dollar and a
half"
"Stop a little" said Jacob, till 1
write him down." and he proceeded to
write the item down. Don't you keep
no horse ?" he asked when he had
finished his writing.
"Ye-es," said the doctor, unwillingly,
"but of course / have to charge for use,
the same as if he was hired horse
don't you see ?"
"Oh, yes, he was your horse, but you
charge yourself for him ?"
eyes, that's it ! Now item No. 2.
To looking at the tongue of Mrs. M.
fifty cents.
"Oh, you look at my wife's tongue,
ell %
Certainly, had to, you know. Item
No. 3. To feeling pulse of Mrs. NJ,
sixty cents"
"Dat was cheap enough -
CT knew you would think So" ex-
claimed the doctor, now satisfied that
he was all right. Item No. 4. etc
hearing Mrs. M. S report of her case,
; one dollar.
mine Colt You charge me fol
my wife's talking?"
"Only what she said in professional
way, assure you. That item you will
, find correct take the next item. TIC
} writing prescription for Mrs. NJ, 49,
That was where the heavy work came
in, you know.
Pretty tam heavy / think so ~
every reasonable for the amount oi
care l gave the subject, as you will see
when you think it over. Item again
: to calling the next day, with copy OF
prescription book with me, So"
"Well dat was all you got amt it p
You was told my wife was all right, anC
that was only $500. Where you make
your $13.75?"
; " You are mistaken about that being
all, Mr.. Milchman. No, sir, could
not let the matter droop there. Pray
allow me to proceed. To studying ovel
the case in my Office, 81.
ooh, you studied over him there p
Certainly / did. Next. To riding
around by your house, on my way home
and looking attentively about the prem
Uses, 81 to meeting child and asking
how her mother was, 81 to making
bill, postage, etc., fifteen cents. There
sir, are all the items, and very reason
able too, upon my honor"