New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-24

bears the Kussldn tltlt Ol N'"N''N' -P'"
his ancestor, Thomas Dimsdale, by Impress
Catherine OF Russia along with the sum oil S'o'-
600 in cash 5000 more for his travelling eN-
penses from London 10 ST. Petersburg, the dig
nifty of Councillor of State, and a life annuity
Of S4,OOO-all this for having merely mocuiated
the Czarina and her son. the Grand Duke, with
vaccine contemporary record which nave
before me at the present moment declares that
DIR. Dimsdae returned to London after having
vaccinated Her Majesty, "very well satisfied with
his treatment" No wonder. Indeed, in order to
find any instance in modern times which may be
compared thereto we must 60 out 10 bfi'ish
India, where Surgcon-Major Frcre, of the English
ARMY recently received from the Nawab Of
Rampoor fee of $4,000 in payment OF three
months medical attendance, during which period
he was successful in curing his dusky llishness
Of articular rheumatism. Professor Charcot, the
great French specialist on all nervous ailments,
who died few weeks ago. was paid $4,000 for
"a single consultation by the late Dom Pedro.
Emperor of Brazil. But then that visit involved
trip from Paris TO Ax-les-Bains, where the
monarch staying at the time. Another big
fee, which occurs to me just at this moment, Is
that paid by the great Russian millionaire, Iere-
schenko, of Kicn, who handed TO DR.. Sachn, one
of the leading professors of the medical depart
mcnt Of the University Of Moscow, check for
10000 rubes for "A single visit. But he was II
patient who valued money so little where his
own health was concerned that he used 10 have
all his prescriptions compounded at Moscow every
day and sent from there TO his residence at kieii,
distance of 500 miles, by special train.
In England the professional fees of physicians
are regulated by traditional usage and etiquette
and for ordinary cOnsultations-lof course | do not
mean operationsJ-to two guincas, or $40 30, which
is usually handed TO the doctor at the conclusion
OF the visit, wrapped up in piece OF paper or
else an envelope much i'll the same manner rs III
China, where the fee Is wrapped up in red paper,
on which are inscribed the words Golden thanks,
Notwithstanding that the amount seldom exceeds
80 cents 1t Is only fair TO add that Chinese
doctor Is even highly paid at that, for his prcscrp
tons, according TO my own experience, comprise
the most rcpulsivc substances, including snake
skins, moths, silk worms and human secrcuOns.
When l inform my readers that have been pre-
scribcd for by native physician in China, beg
of them at the same time to believe that RETAINED
from having the prescriptions maze up keeping
them as ctrlOsltes
This method in vogue in England and in China.
Of handing to the doctor his fee wrapped up III
piece Of paper, gives Isc in London AZ any late, to
a considerable amount of fraud on the part of the
patients, who, particularly in cases where they do
not propose to return IA second time, unh"sltatngly
substitute shilling pieces III lieu Of sONcIclgEs ana
copper farthings in lieu of shillngs. certain ply
slcans, notably Sir William Jcnner, Queen We
torias principal medical attendant, is noted for his
extraordinary skill in discovering by the relative
weight of gold, silver or copper. whether the pa
icnts who visit him attempt To substitute COINS OF
inferior value 10 the two sovcrelgns, and TWO si-
linGs equivalent 10 TWO euinca-. IT being con
trary to etiquette for the physicians 10 open the
paper containing the fee until after the patient has
left the room. Some great ladies in London, while
they do not presume 10 substitute coins or
inferior value 10 the sOvercigns, max" "A point oil
emitting the cOncOmtant twO-shing bits. and Sir
William is equally known for MS particularly
strong objection TO the absence of ia" latter CONS
On one occasion, having been handel 10y a we'll
known dowager duchess an cnv"loP" which lie felt
contained only two sOycrclgns, hr put on his eye
glasses and STOPPING down tcean closely inspect
ing the floor.
What have you lost, Sir William inquired
the titled lady.
Il am looking for the two shllings you dropped,
promptly produced the shillinss and blu,hcd, Of
course, 10 the roots of her hair for II i social
axiom that leaders OF fashion always have natural
roots to their hair oven when IL IL ~ palpabH
features Of the stout pccrc.s in London who goes
by the name of Tho Rcd Duchess 49,,
Like DR.. Botkinc at =. Petersburg. Sir Will
lam is celebrated for his kindness TO the poor and
he wears 1T his watchchain an old gold guinea
piece which bears a pleasant little history. one
day he found among his patients IN ms consult
ing "A nliiDIc carpenter. IN T'lldIhlU- ~
the man that his disease had through neglected
treatment made great progress, he received the
following reply
have been waiting TO see you for three years,
WHY, my man? Couldn't you afford to come
sooner ?" quericd tho piys ian.
"Oh yes" answered the carpenter, nut !
couldn't get gold gulnra-piccc any where mon"
have been coined for more than han n century,
and had heard you take nothing else.
Sir William. as have stated above, wears thit
guinea fastened 10 hi watchchain. but thousl iir
completely cured the patient in the course OF "iSht
months he never took another fee from IN" poor
fellow who had srivcn - hard 10 ma th.t s"i',.
piece and who had waited 30 patiently to consult
doctors fees not infrcqucntlY take IA" form
% titles in the Old World, and At th' '-''h'
moment there are no less than i %IN I la,.n
ubvscisns and surgeons in ENGLAND VINO nave
handles TO their names. all of them being knlshls
or barorcts the Crown having failed as yet 10
elevate doctor 10 the House OF L,rds, IN &c
corfance with the suggestion put forward ny
Punch" 70 the effect that the physician IN AT
tendance at those events which are Described rs
happy in the palace as well AZ IN III" ,;,Ie
should he rais''d 10 the peerasc uhd'r ''c i''c Vi
Lord Dclivcrus"
Perhaps tho most charming manner Of com
pensatng physicians for their ear" and attention
is that which was customary among the naive
medicos in japan when was formerly statl1hru
there Physicians would not charge for Hclr
services, but. on the contrary, would even
decline TO name an amount, ana pfo,'s'cn
against any idea OF remuneratin: Patients, on
their side, were too proud 70 accept si'h
services free. and would send 10 the physician,
not as a Zee hut more "a friendly gift or
token Of gratitude. Il sum Of money proper
tionatc 10 the means Of the eiycr, together WIN
some piece Of silk. bronze or lacqncr-work. the
idea being that medical attcndanc" Of far too
important ard elevated IA character 10 he d"H'-
Grated by its being bartcrcd for 30 much hithy
lucre What pity it is TINT Western cylli2A-
ton with all its common place vugarity ana
lack OF delicacy. does not admit of the adoption
Of such a charming method Of intcrcourSc between
medicine man and patient. EA-AIIACiIE.
VETERAN COLONIAL STATESMAN