Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-11-20
Anecdotes OF Doctors.

they charge poor patients 100 hlgh
~, but the fact is there is no elias
which acts more generously in re
hitting fees.
Many doctors are noted for thei
liberality 10 giving free advice AM
medicines to the poorer classes
and sometimes to the rich. Du
ring the illness of the late Emper
or Napoleon Ill, Sir Henry Thomp
son, a popular physician of Lon
don, attended him once a day FOL
nearly fortnight, going twenty
five miles to Chiselhurst to visi
him. Napoleon died and the En-
press Eugenia handed Sir Henry
Thompson fee of sl0,500, which
was a liberal Acknowledgements
He returned one-half the money
in a kind and delicate manner. In
another instance, when Thompson
was spending his vacation in the
Highlands of Scotland, now and
then making a raid on the grouse
and patridges, a wealthy friend of
his met with frightful accident,
and the family sent for Sir Henry,
who, without doubt, sighed over
the fact of having his rest time in
vaded. The case was so danger
Gus that Sir Henry was compelled
to remain in personal attendance
on the sufferer for nine days. At
the end "he pulled his patient
through" and on taking his leave
a check for thousand guineas was
placed in his hand, with a warm
expression of gratitude for services
it was firmly declined,
on the ground that attendance was
given to a friend, and during a
holiday. DR.. Hope, of London,
when he prescribed flannel to the
poor, always used to give them the
flannel. DR.. Baillie prescribed
that young lady should spend the
winter in a mild climate, and when
he knew that she could not afford
It, presented her with an adequate
sum to defray her expenses. 1t
was a matter Of sincere sorrow to
him if he ever spoke roughly to a
poor person.
The eminent DR.. Willis, of the
asst century, had patient evident
y in reduced circumstances, who,
poor as he was, made shift always
to have, neatly rolled up in a piece
If paper, the fee of one guinea,
he ordinary honorariam for sin
yle visit at that time, which the
ioctor could not make any excuse
or not excepting. He saw, how
'ver, that the.patient did not take
he generous wine which, when
had begun, was Or
Tered to sustain and invigorate the
ystem, as the poor man could not
ford to buy it. One day the doe
or said: "lf you will promise to
axe some of my own pills, in which
have great faith, / shall leave
hem for you as pass by to-mor-
ow for you are well enough to
dispense with my visits" The
promise was given and the next
morning the doctor left his box of
'ills. On opening it the patient
ound all the guineas he had dis
,ensed as medical fees, with a lit
lie note insisting that he must re-
GIVE them back. There was also
generous bank check for fur
her sum.
Most every one has heard of John
Abernethy, the great English sur
,eon. He had very fidgety or.
yanization, but under his rough
manners he yelled one of the kind
st of hearts. The story of bis
marriage is good one. He wrote
'f-hand to a lady note of pro-
,osal, saying that he was too busy
o attend in person, but he would
give her a fortnight for consider
ition. On one particular occasion,
when George ". sent for Aber-
,ethy, the messenger found him
ihout starting to Bartholomew
where he had to lecture
o a large number Of Students
Tell the king" said Abernetby,
that cannot go to him until after
ny lecture to my pupils, whom
I'M bound not to disappoint. Az
er that I'm at bis service" The
monarch, much offended, sent for
mother doctor. In occasional en- /
COUNTERS Abernetby's patients some
lines had decidedly the best of il.
inc gentleman went TO consult
i'm about bad pain in bis should