Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-03
THE PRICE FOR A MAN
Ranges From $40 to $1,000 With
New York's Medical Fraternity.
BROKERS In LIVE HUMAN BEINGS,
And Deliberate Speculation in ,ufferers
From Rare Diseases
A TRAMP SELLS HIMSELF AT AUCTION
fcoHnrsroNprNc1 OF THE prsrArcH.,

cnangeS Ior the metropolis, In consequene
Of which our famous surgeons and phys
clans have volunteered to become broker
They have not as yet erected larg
lowered edifce, in which to buy and SCI
subjects of valuable diseases for scientif
study to the highest bidder, but the sui
jects are not at all backward in loungin
around the private offices Of the nev
''brokera" Nor do they appear before tn
doctors without attracting the greatest at
tention and discussion over the value o
studying their respective diseases Thei
complaints are always uncommon" an,
while they do not know their value to tn
specialists, they are determined to hang of
until assured the highest figure has beef
offered
Although dying of incurable diseases
these subjects are capable of inventing al
sorts of schemes to raise the prices they ar
offered. and their greatest system seems t.
be to appear before number of riva
specialists and offer to sell themselves 81
that all can plainly hear. This alway
causes intense excitement when it occurs
but so unfrequently is it that more than on
or tive prominent doctors can be found to
gether that the subjects seldom have sucl
opportunities
An Actual Case Of Bidding.
The writer has heard of these happening 2
several times, but has only witnessed one
of that an exciting scene can be described
It took place this week in the Entranc,
Hall of tho New York Hospital. Al
especially important operation was to b
performed that day, and Prof. Robert F.
Weir, the operator, had sent out special in.
vitations to all the greatest surgeons in the
country, among whom were: Drs. William
T. Bull, Frank Hartly, John A. wyethe,
Charles MoBarney, Edward Partridge, H.
P. Loomis, Andrew j. MoCosh and William
H. Thompson, to see and aid him in the re-
moval of an enormous brain tumor.
During the operation q wretched s'tramp-
ish" looking man opened the front door of
the hospital building and inquired for the
Professor. The guard informed him that
Prof Weir was then engaged in the operat-
ing amphitheater, but If his case was urgent
he had better wait until he came out, as it
would not be long The fellow said nothing
In reply, but seated himself at the foot Of
the staircase, where he waited patiently un-
til loud clatter of feet was heard on the
together with an equally loud chatter OF
voices growing nearer and nearer.
Wanted to Sell Himself Right There.
As the last corner was turned he arose
and took good care to place himself in such
a position, in the middle of the hall, that
the mob Of medical men could not pass him
without his attracting their attention. Prof.
Weir was among them, and when the door
with zone foot in the grave"
had inquired for him, he advanced toward
the man and said: "Well, what can do for
you, young fellow"
"Doctor, I'm sick and kin get no relief in
The dispensary. I kin do no work, and I
Thought ~ how would do as the fello' at
The dispensary told me ter, and see If yer
would pay me something to study me dis
sase."
No sooner did these words pass his lips
than questions came pouring in on all sides,
heir object being to discover the nature of
mis- malady and Its value, but the man did
not seem to know. He only knew some
hing panied him terribly in his chest. He
1ad been informed the name of the trouble
IN the dispensary, but could not remember,
,or could be understand It However, he
Iaid he had NO objection to an examination
hen and there and the surgeons might see
'or themselves
His Case Was Worth Paying For.
This revealed the extraordinary fact that
he man was dying with an aneurism of the
.orta, one of the rarest and gravest condi-
ions known, for which no treatment has
.ver proved successful Even the efforts in
uch cases of Prof Victor. Horsley, of Eng
and, Bergman, of Germany, Billroth, of
Austria, and Bull, Of this country, have
allied to give relief Only few months
20 there was case of this kind brought to
Prof Bull, and the patient was California
Millionaire, who offered any price to be
ured. But he died after an operation per-
ormed In counsel with six Of the greatest
American surgeons in St. Luke's Hospital.
'hus it is plain the surgeon who effects .
ure of this terrible malady will be made
amous all over the globe. But as such op-
are rare, it may be many years
eiore one is successful
The discovery caused the widest ex cite
lent among the assembled special lists
here on stretcher lay the subject-e1am-
nation proved be had IN aneurism of the
orta-and the man arose halfway and
sked in tho feeble voice he bore how much
ny of them would offer him for the privi-
,ge of experimenting on his malady with
view to cure, if possible.
Provided for Wife and Children.
He gave his name at the hospital as
[ichael Riegheren. He was wise in his |
ction, although to some people it may |
,em terrible, for In his present condition |
9 could do nothing and would live only a |
r. lnos Ia hoI xrysTo ox,I
,ree small children living with his sister
! 313 Oakland avenue. Williams burg, half. |
arving on what their mother could earn |
king in washing. The operation has not /
cen performed yet, and when it is it will |
Q done in secrecy ct private hospital. In |
,e meantime he Is being cared for by the |
1rgeon who is owner of his malady, and |
no desires to study him awhile before |
perating.
What Insurance company would insure |
il liie? Why none. Of course, and in
vely combat against one another these |
oble ministers Of health bid up an insur-
nee to be received before death, which |
arted at $50 and run rapidly up to 81 200.
hen, too, he has at least chance of re-
,very. If he dies under the knife his
lmily will be paid another $1,000 for his
cad body in order to allow further study of
le disease.
Tho Successful Bidder Was Delighted.
The surgeon who finally outbid the party
one of the foremost in the country, or
erhaps the whole world. He is noted the
orld over for having succeeded in some
the most daring attempts. IN advance of
hich none of his fellow workers approved
le undertaking. But 30 eager were all to
reel in the discovery of some new opera
on that will effect . cure Tor suoh an in
lrable disease that the opposition against
IN was very great In fact, not until the
hers saw he was determined to outbid
em did they resign from the field. In
Atty the auhiect MaS of much greater