The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-07
TOO MANY DOCTORS.
The Ranks of the Medical Profess
elon overerowded.
THEIR HARD WORK ANDPOOR PAY.
what 1t Costs to Mako a GOOD Start
in Practice..It Profteth Man More
in These Times to be a Lawyer than
a Phystcian.-some Experience.
nenrr ptspp d Chicago ln.er oeeaa.

Henry Btsoy IN Chicago Inter Ocean,
1t is estimated that during the past
year there graduated from the medical
colleges OF the United States about
5000 young doctors. There annually
come into this country large number
OF medical immigrants. In 1881, &C.
cording to the British census, there
were only five and eight-tenths phys
icians in England and Wales to every
10000 of the population; but the CEN
sus Of the United States in 1880 showed
an average of seventeen doctors in a
like number OF the population. II may,
therefore, be clearly seen that If the
medical profession Of this country
never was overcrowded it soon will be.
Think OF it'll During the past year
alone one new doctor for every 1900
men, women and children.
Since the average American medical
school to-day. requires three years at
tendance, and since there are many now
in non-professioha schools preparing
for q medical education, it is fair tocon-
clude that there are now in this coun-
try not less than 10000 medical,stu-
dents, or one medical student to every
5000 inhabitants.
It is estimated that ono doctor to
every thousand Of the population is a
very fair proportion.
Taking the figures OF the census OF
1880 as a basis, wo find that to give each
physician an annual income Of $1,000,
every man, woman and child must con-
tribute not less than g per annum.
Since fully one-half Of the population do
not pay doctors' bills the other half
must double their contributions.
PAY OF DOCTORS.
There is popular idea that doctors
receive "big pay" That all that doc
tors receive is clear gain. In many com
munities, too, doctor Is supposed to
charge only for his medicine. Tho doc
tor is put upon the same plane as the
grocer or hardware dealer, but It is sup
posed that his drugs cost very little. In
other sections tho druggist is preferred
to the physician for ordinary consulta-
tons, for the reason that he gives more
medicine forless money. Doctors should
be paid for their advice, and generally
the drugs prescribed are relatively Of
little value.
There is certain commercial value to
doctors services, aside from the time
required to make call. Some time
since grocer in country town was
trying to show why his bills should be
paid before that Of the doctor He said:
II have capital invested in my bust
ness. but you have not"
"You are mistaken" the doctor re-
piled. II was drawing n salary Of 500
per month when stopped to study
medicine. My course took me three
years. On an average it takes six
years OF practice before doctor begins
to pay all Of his expenses. He must
constantly be purchasing new books
and instruments, and must take medi-
cal journals to keep up with the times.
In many ways a practicing physician is
obliged to havn extra expenses, such as
horses and buggy, Offices and society
demands which he would not be
obligedto have il he were working on a
salary,