The Phoenix herald., 1880-08-06
"Thc Know aou.v

Some time ago an anecdofe appear l cd in the Record Union of q physi- | cian's servant who explained a S25
 bill of his masters by saving the l doctor charged S5 for his labor and 1 s2G for his know how" 4 subscrib- ! CT signing Welcome" writing f,., ra Little River, Mendocino county, | while aflH ltiing the right Of Dr0fes- -soaal men to make such charges as they please, desires to assert his right,
 also 10 question the propriety of charging for the "know how" and
 opens the door which swings upon the rusty hings of a very old areu-
 nent-but he has his say, neverthe-
 less, and thus jocosely pitches into
 the physicians:
 l propose to stand up in favor of i the unfortunate patient and thousands
 of his fellowmen, who are compelled
 to pay so dearly for the doctors
 ''know howl to kill or to cure. I
 have my opinion. may be in error;
 if so, 1 shall be glad to have some
 one who is better posted give some
 good reasons why my friends, the
 M- D.'s, should have what some of
 us deem exorbitant prices for their
 know how" l will cite a few ln-
 stances which have come under my
 personal observation: A man who is compelled t) labor twelve hours per day in a saw-mill for $50 per month to support his family, was so unfor- | tunate as to meet with an accident | by which his hand was badly cut | with saw. Dr. Somebody was call | ed 10 dress the wound. He came a | distance of two miles, was one hour | performing the operation and charg- f ed the sum of $50-S10 for the labor, and 1 suppose $40 for the know | how" This young doctor came from | the city only few years since with nothing but his carpet-sack and hIs ''know how" and is HOW the owner of real estate, bonds, mort gagcs etc. Another very skilful physi- clan, whose know howl is almost | was called to see a gentle man who was very low. In a very few moments the learned doctor pro nounced his patient beyond all help, with only one short week to remain with his friends For his information and nothing else, his charge was only $50. Yet, strange as it may seem, two years have passed away and the patient is alive today. IL is needless to add further illustrations. The ex- perience of hundreds who have paid the hard-earned savings of years to noted M. D's, and many of whom have derived no benefit from "knOw hOws," will be proof sufficient for my side. But the wise old darkey says: 'Massa hab spend heap of money and great many years to get the know how" Does not the same apply equally as well to mechanics of all kinds Many we know have spent years of hard labor under severe masters to learn their trades, and with many years of prac- tice can obtain for their labor only the going wages, from $2 to 53 90 per day. Who ever heard of a car porter charging 8 for an hours labor aRd SEQ more for inc "know how?" And how many of us would stand such nonsense for an argument in his favor? I, for one, shall always argue in favor of the old adag", Live and let live" l also believe in paving well for the "know how" of every man or woman. no matter what profession CT trade they repre- ;ent With tbe physicians. all seem O be equally well qualified, if we udge from the fees charged by them everywhere.