Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-24
A LUCRATIVE PROFESSION.
Figures that Show it is Easy for Doctor to
Make Money.

FlSuFes tnaG SNOW lie is Easy Tor Doctor to
Make Money.
my gracious aliver exclaimed a well
known physician to reporter for The
Philadelphia North American. ''What
viii become of my profession? It seems
to me that nearly every family nowadays
has a physician in it, judging by the signs
on the windows and DOORS"
The professor seemed in talkative
mood, and the opportunity was embraced
to put number of question about the
medical workers.
you're not afraid of the profession
being overcrowded, are you?" was asked.
"Oh, no, in one sense" was the iocund
reply, ''for the more of us there are the
faster we invent new diseases to be cured,
you see.''
Then, after pause, he said: "The doc
tors multiply faster than the people. 1
believe there are at least 1900 practition-
ers in the city and $50 retired, and every
year the colleges send out hundreds more,
many of whom settle down here to make
their fortune. They find great encour-
agement, too, in what they see in the
great center of fashion and riches on
Chestnut, Walnut, Spruce, and those
streets. Of all the luxury surrounding
the lives of the residents the physicians
enjoy the highest. Look at their man
sions, their equipages, and see how they
figure in high society-first everywhere"
HAS the road to this honor and station
been hard one to travel?"
'Not generally. You see the first thing
a graduate does is to get an appointment
somewhere in hospital or prison, or bet
ter than all, the almshouse. If he has a
little social influence this is easily accom-
plished. Here he can extend his &C
quaintance and get plenty of experience,
but, of course, little pay. If he has
rich father and can sport dashlng team
and busily ride around town on imaginary
calls, provided he be attentive enough to
his business to make these calls with strict
regularity, he's what you call started and
will be doing well in two years."
''Where would you generally find his
earliest calls?"
swell, he's lucky to first get hold of
some old rich persons, who has nothing
much the matter with him except age, but
must always be taking medicine to keep
in good health This kind don't care
much what they pay and less what they
take, and anything they would like would
have the same beneficial effect, provided
always it be carefully prepared with harm
less intensions. Then his relatives, and,
through their influence, their friends send
fer him to attend sick servants"
''But keeping up appearance will not
get him practice with rich folks, viii i"
mo, but it deceives the poorer classes.
| The calls upon them may be fifty cents at
first, and as it grows he will raise his fees,
and thus, while improving his income, he
is improving the class of his patients.
He may get his calls up to SIS each, and
his office consultations at So with the
| richer patrons"
''Well, all these rich doctors can't make
their living off their rich neighbors, can
they?"
mo, Indeed. The humber classe; are
the richer fields. One of our wealthiest
physicians, whose income is $1,000
year, usually asks if the cash is on land
before he will answer call in a co1tine
ment case. If it isn't, he doesn't go''
'.Now I've been preparing few statis-
tic continued the professor, "if you
would like to look at them. The total in
come of the city's physicians is not less
than $5,0O0,OO0. There were 22,656 births
in the city Last year. These luxuries cost
the recipients at least half a million.
Here is where class shows itself. [ count
5000 Of these advents at 800 each and
$4,000 in extra, and this is handsome
presents to the doctors and nurses from
overjoyed fathers. Some 5000 mope of
these presentments ct $50 each, half the
remainder at S25, and the other half at
$40, and the million is quickly
summed up. Then take the
20,657 deaths. There's another million.
The cost of leaving is about the sane as
of coming here, you see. Well, besides,
there are 100000 families who pay atleast
100000 tribute annually to the doc
tors"
"How would you classify the physicians
income, professor"
"There are at least fifty whose practice
yields $4,000 year can name them.
I can give you one hundred more at
$4,000 year, and then there is $SOOO,-
600 left to divide among the remainder of
the profession. 1t isn't bad business,
is it?''