The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-04
a H1GH-PRIcED DENTIST.
Seven Thousand Dollars Demanded for -Four
Days Work.


New York Times
The brokers at the Windsor are laughing at
the story of a heavy bill which dentlst sent to
General Blanco, the Venezuela President, last
week for professional work for Mrs Blanco and
two Of her daughters. The three ladies, acting
on the advice of friend in this city, went to DIR.
Atkinson, at No. Al East Ninth street, and ar
ranged with him for treatment This was one
week ago last Monday, and as the President and
his family were going to sail on the following
Saturday, there was necessity for haste. DIR.
Atkinson set aside other engagements hired adj
ditional help, and went to work The day be-
fore the family sailed the ladies left the doctors
Office believing that their teeth were as sound as
detail skill could make them and professedly sat
Isfied with the work
A bill was sent to President Blanco charging
81, 900 for the service. He was somewhat as
tonished at what he believed to be an enormous
price for four days work, and showed the bill to
friend. The friend was likewise astounded.
He put the bill in his pocket, took it into the
billiard room, and told the story as a capital
joke to his acquaintance 1t was repeated over
the billiard tables, drifted into the bar-room,
stirred up with the social milk punch, and
chuckled at by professional men in the reading
room. President Blanco was not at all pleased
with the notoriety he was getting, and would
friends dissuaded him from doing so The gem
tleman to whom he had shown the bill in the
first place called on Dr. Atkinson, and suggested
that perhaps there was mistake.
"Oh no. said the doctor, mot at all That
is the amount of my bill"
The friend went away protesting that the sum
was an imposition and would not be paid. Presi
dent Blanco won't away, and left sum of money
lsaid to be 81, 500) in the hands of a business
firm whom he had some dealings with, request
ing them to come to an amicable settlement if
they could do so.
DR.. Atkinson lost his temper when he heard
that other people were inclined to interfere in his
business and make the matter public, but he de-
clined to have anything to say for purely pro-
fessional reasons. A fellowd dentist who had
talked over the matter with DR. Atkinson, and
was acquainted with the facts said: DIR. Atkin-
son considers his professional services worth $50
an hour, and if people 60 to him suppose they
must expect to pay him his price. Mrs. Blanco
knew that her bill would be large,
though there were a few charges
which she probably did not take into
consideration. DIR. Atkinson's three sons are en-
gagged with him in the business. When he en-
ploys them on his own patients of course he pays
them by the hour / am told that the dentists
worked with the three ladies in the chair from
early morning until dark, and the artificial part
was doneson extra time in the evenings OF
dent Bancos request, all other engagements
were set aside until this work was done That
involved loss of custom, which was probably
taken into consideration" DR. Atkinson dis
plays in big frame near his operating chair
engrossed resolutions from the money-order de-
partment of the New York postofice, thanking
him for saving the life of their Superintendent
by curing an attack of necrosis of the Jaw. q
painful process of decay"
If compromise is not reached an appeal will
be made to the courts.