The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1888-02-16
TIE DOOKEiR D0OTORED.
A Learned Medical Man Climbs Hill
and Goes for the major"
TO THE CITIZEN.


TO The CITIZEN.
In the last issue Of The CITIZEN
my attention is called to an eiaoo-
rate address and q long list OF siren
uous resolutions by Maj. W. i. Hiii
before the Giles county farmers al
lance which deal very unjustly and
unfairly with the medical profession.
In Justice to myself ard to all hon
orable members of our time honored
calling, 1 feel constrained to reply
TO such scathing and unmerited de-
nureiations. In SO doing L Will
say in the premises that | am actu-
ated by no uukind or personal feel
ings. as l have no acquaintance with
the author, but as there are two
sides to every question, and as one
side has been presented, let the
public in all fairness hear the other.
/ sneak in open vindication oil our
rights. which have been so wantonly
assailed. l propose TO speak fairay
and plainly, but purpose TO "lay
down naught in malice nor nothing
extenuate.' ] have always been
averse to bringing up matters con-
corning the medical profession In
the secular press, but AeoneeiVe the
majors article to be so full OF bitter
invective, it can hardly be expected
that physician with a particle OF
professional pride can fail to be
wounded by such o publication,
whether he makes public express
sion of it or not. AS for the farm-
ers and their vocation, l entertain
the kindliest feelings, and am fthe
opinion that their deliberations
would result in more good where all
such addresses and resolutions are
left out. What would you think OF
the Giles county medical associa-
ton were it to publish such paper
against the farmers2 1t would GER
tainly be very foolish and unfair,
besides supremely ridiculous. II
the major will read Chas. Reades
"Put Yourself in His Place" |
scarcely think he VIII De gullt} oi
such mistake again.
In dealing with the major, l OF
course will take it for granted that
he is farmer, as | could not other
wise fairly answer his accusations.
Now, the major has great deal to
say about "philanthropy," 'chris-
tian magnanimity," "true interest IN
the commonwealth" "physician's
exorbitant charges" "riding a fine
horse" "dressed in regal splendor,"
and the doctors family ''pampered
by luxury and being in ease and
comfort, and a host Of other customs
akin to Vanderbilt, which exist
only in his vivid fancy and which
but few physicians enjoy. Ihe
major also has great deal to say
about the "poor laborer" as he
''trudges behind the plow clad N
rags and filth, living upon diet
scarcely assimilated by the stomach
of a brute" and about his being
1'famlshed by hunger and thirss,"
and working for 26 cents q day.
Well, now, for whom is he worhlng
for &c cents day? Is it not in the
majors field? Who regulates the
26 cents day price of labor but
those of the majors vocation9 Who
reaps the benefit of the cheap lahorf
Not the physician for be works Tor
that same 'laborer' for nothing
simply because the major gets his
work for a soug-comparatlveiy
nothing-hence is not able TO pay
his doctor. What have the physi-
clans to do with the regulation OF
the farm labor? Docs he not in a
great many instances have to visit
that .Iahorer's" family for nothing,
even though he goes In the broillng
heat of midsummer sun, or at
the hour of midnight, or in the win
ter through rain, sieet and snow
He does in the majority of cases.
And dare say II the major would
take the books of tne most OF the
physicians in Giles county be would
not give them % per cent. for their
accounts made while he was asleep
at home in a comfortable bed. Ii
the products of his farm, say corn
for instance, gets To be worth 81
per barrel, will he sell 1t to the Ia
borer for $3.50 or even at the cost
of production? Why ofcourse not;
ne will sell it to him on credit al
a big profit and big interest, and
the consequence is the poor labor
err has nothing in the fall attel
working for rs cents 3 day. VII
he even allow the poor laborer's Gov
or horse to run in his pasture o
stalk field without payF That
where poor laborer's" money goe
and not to the doctors. l allude t
the customs here in Giles county
and if the major does not coniori
40 them be is an exception TO th
rule. If the major will look else
where he will find that physician
fees are less here than in most pla
COS and but few make more than
living. Those of them that hay
made money have had other enter
urises besides their profession
services. The rich physicians a