The morning call., 1894-04-26
DOCTORS FEES.

1t is currently reported in New York
| that DR.. Keyes, who accompanied the Van
derbilts on a four mouths trip on the
yacht Valiant. received fee OF $685. for
his services on that occasion, though he
had no patients except few victims OF
seasickness. 1t is said that even at this
liberal rate of remuneration the doctor
was reluctant 10 go as his trip cut him OH
from a large and lucrative practice.
few wears ago estimates which were
made of the income of practicing physi-
clans led to the impression that a doctor
in fine practice in a large Eastern city drew
from his profession au average income Of
$4,000 a year. The leaders of the profess
sion received very much more. Famous
surgeons charged $1,000 for single opera
ton, and as much for attending a wealthy
patient through long and dangerous i'll
ness There were years in which Marion
Sims, Willard Parker and Van Brown
took in $4,000, and there was probably
no wear in which they received less than
$50. 600. A statement has been published
that Jay Gould paid his doctor $4,000
year, and that bis attendance on the mil
lionaire did not interfere with his general
DIdCllCes
troyersy which arose over the bills sent in
by President Garfeld'S doctors. The bills
we're finally referred TO a committee of
Congress which consisted mainly Of men,
bers from the rural districts. They
awarded DR.. Bliss, who was the attendant
physician in charge, $500. and Drs. Agnew
and Hamilton. who were specialists and
leaders in their branch. 5000 each. The
award Disguised the doctors, who thought
they should have been paid at least three or
four times as much.
Medical skill, like art, is a thing which
cannot be appraised in money. The COM
mon law of England once held that doc
tors visit was worth 6s Sd. say 81 IS;
but Dupuytren of Paris had another way
of looking at the question. He would say
to q patient: "You have got fatal dis
ease which in the ordinary course of things
will carry you off in three months. I can
cure you and no one else can. You are
worth half million. Would you rather
pay me hundred thousand and live, or
send for cheap doctor and dep
In the second and third class cities in
this country doctors 90 we'll when they
make $1,000 or $4,000 year. They charge
from 81 to 81 for consultations at their
home and SO to S. when they visit the
patient at his residence, But they do
great deal of business for which they never
get paid. Many patients are too poor to
pay; others think that doctors live on air,
and do not trouble themselves about their
bills. In London well-known doctor
charges two guineas for the first consuIta-
ton at his Office aud one guinea for every
subsequent consultation; where he visits
the patient at his home the customary
charge is five guineas. But in the country
towns of England much smaller fees are
customary; doctor in the country towns
who nets $500 from his practice is supposed
to be doing well.
The French have a rule that the highest
medical and surgical skill must always be
at the service Of the poorest man in the
land. The successors of Vilpeau and
Trousseau and Ricord will not look at a
grave case in a rich family for less than
10000 francs; but they all have their clinic
at the hospitals at 6 in the morning, and
thereat they prescribe and operate with
as much care as they use in their private
practice. For attending the clinic the
city pays each of them 1900 francs year,
not quite enough to defray their carriage
hire.
The gift of healing is one Of the noblest
gifts of heaven to man. The great physi-
clan who can wrest sick man out of the
jaws of death stands above the leaders of
all other professions; the lawyer, the
artist, the writer are only I'll to tie his shoe
lace. And such a toiler is worthy Of his
reward