New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-25
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
IN BEHALF OF RESIDENT PHYSICIANS.
THE VILLAGE DOCTORS AT SUMMER RESORTS
NOT THE ONES WHO CHARGE
ExoRBITAyT FEES
To the Editor Of The r,,h

TO the Editor Of The r,,ha
Sir Win you kindly allow constant reader ~ vour
highiy esteemed paper opportunity Of answering an
arucle' Whlch think in your issue ~ Tuly A.
under the head Of Visitors at Summer Pasorts by
"A Nlcum'' lie begins with advice 70 people about
TO VISIT summer resorts, which is excellent but his one
WISH 10 summer resort must have developed an en-
ofmous amount OF gall 10 enable him TO assume that
his advice is particularly applicable in dealing with
the resident physician. His advice is s,nnIv corn-
, nonsense business principle, which is inst "a an
plcable TO person visiting the city or about TO
purchase anything whatever as 10 one starting for
summer resort In TACT IL Is far more necessary for
people from the country 10 follow his advice II they
should wish to consult city physician Of any stand.
ing. for the that the terms are 50 ont Of pr
portion TO what they have been in the habit of CIV
ing.
As 10 over-charging at summer resorts. do not
believe TINT the complaint IS due except I'm very rare
instances to the resident physician and for this
reason-he Is located there permanently and II he Is
at all ambitions Of success in life, he can not possibly
be satisfied with the work Of two or al most three
months of the year, either pecuhlarily or profess
sonally He must TO be successful during the season.
build up lucrative practice among the residents and
establish reputation for fair dealing and ability not
only among the residents but among the visitors as
well. among people with children particularly. con-
fdence in the resident physician VIII very often do
more toward determining where the summer shall be
spent than all the other attractions Of the place for
which reasons it behooves him TO know what he is
doing and to treat his clients honestly. and not to
consider his duty well done when, having made a
snap diagnosis. written many and as complicated
prescriptions as he thinks necessary to curry favor
with some druggist who viii assist him. he extracts
large fee as possible from The Victim
II believed "A Victim TO have written his letter
IN faith nd he I'D
should end this letter here by Offering him my sincere
regrets that he should have fallen into the hands Of
what am convinced Is the exception to the rule as
regards resident physicians As I not convince
myself that such IL the case but believe II to be an
uncaed-for attack on the resident physician must
ask to be allowed yet little more space During an
extended experience at summer resorts, am CON
WINGED that there is Just for complaint not only
by "a Victim but by the resident physician well.
The trouble Is caused by those pirates
Who at the first sign Of the resorts opening.
leave their practice in the city, II they have any, or
their place assistant 10 successful practitioner
hither prey not only upon the visitors but
also the residents posing the while Overwored city
physicians seeking rest, and only prescribing as a
particular favor or because they cannot possibly help
IT, rs the dear people nnot possibly trust themselves
In the hands Of the resident physician. At the same
time they never forget however snappy their diagnosis
or however busy they may be writing prescriptions,
which shall win at least applause from tie druggist,
to exact fee which Is anywhere from two 70 twenty
times the fee asked by the resident physician They
are often wholly Irresponsible as their mistakes can
usually do them no harm, and they need no reputation
The fact that they REGISTERED from the city gives
them practice and prestige over the resident ply
sician which Is only too often undeserved. And all
they have 10 consider while they are prescribing Is
inst how much the victim can be made 10 dsgorge.
one reason why mistrust Nictims7 motive Is be
n
unnecessary 10 use the word resident His bitterness
too il so pronounced that there must be cause i0r II
other than the one stated Lastly, he misQuOtes and
changes the locality OF the story Of the eter when
he saws has been amusing (because Of It's very alb
surdty) many people in tho city 50 as better to bear
out and strengthen MS own story.
He ends his letter with poor advice II we are 70 take
what goes before for its face value lie ought Ger
tainlv to be consistent advise against the employ
meut of the country physician under any clrcum-
stances ami satisfied that the evil Is nowhere near
20 universal as d" A Victim would have Us believe.
also believe that the average country physician VIII
compare favOrably with the average OF their city
brethren. kEslDENL Ph1oIO4AN'
Point Pleasant n. j., July 10, 1891.