The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1894-03-09
BIG FEES TO DOCTORS.
DR.. Botkine's Sarcasm to a Penurious
Prince stingy Duchess.

Much diversity OF opinion is likely
to arise in connection with the as
tonishing ukase recently issued by
the Gar regulating and restricting
within certain narrow limits the fees
demanded by medical practitioners
for their services. BY many it will
be considered as one of those pa
ternal pieces of autocratic legisla-
tion-few and far between-which
in certain measure palliate and ex-
cuse despotism. But by the doctors
themselves it is bound to be regarded
in the light of an act of unwarranta-
bic interference and outrageous
tyranny.
1t may be taken for granted that
this ukase would never have been
issued had old DR.. Botkine been still
alive. He was the favorite and most
trusted physician of the late Gar
ina, and as such stood high in the
good graces of her son, Alexander
Ill. The doctors regular fee for a
consultation was 100 rubles at his
own house. while he demanded FIVE
times that sum for any professional
visit at the residence of pa
tient, il it happened to be with
in calling distance of his own
house. He made up for the heavi-
ness of his charges to the rich by
his benevolence to the poor, whom
he treated for nothing. A writer
in the New York Tribune says that
one day he was visited by the late
Prince DemidoG, who was as mean
and as avaricious as he was rich, his
wealth surprising that of any noble
man or commoner in Europe. After
having prescribed the necessary
remedies DR.. Botkine noticed that
Prince Demidof had extracted two
5-ruble notes from his pocket book
and that he was about to tender
them in payment of the consulta-
| ton.
Thanks, no; nothing at all, my
dear Prince" no exclaimed, in the
most kindly and aifectionate manner.
you ought to know that never ex-
act any fee at all from the poor"
and with that he bowed the Prince
/ out.
I La England the professional fees
Of physicians are regulated by tradi.
tional usage aud etiquette and for
ordinary consultations to I wo guineas
or SlO.JO, which is usually handed to
the doctor at the conclusion OF the
I visit wrapped up in a piece Of paper
or else an envelope, much in the
same manner a. in China, where the
Zee is wrapped up in red paper on
which are inscribed the words Sol.
den thanks" Notwithstanding that
the amount seldom exceeds 80 cents.
II is only fair to add that q Chinese
doctor is even highly paid at that
for his prescriptions.
This method in vogue in England
aud in China OF handing to the doc.
tor his fec wrapped up in piece Of
paper gives rise, in London at any
rate. to q considerable amount OF
fraud on the part Of the patients
who, particularly in cases where they
do not propose to return second
time, unhesitatingly substitute
shilling pieces in lieu OF sover,
eigns and copper farthings ia
lieu Of shillings. Certain physi
clans, notably Sir William Jen,
ner, Queen Victoria's principal medi
cal attendant, is noted for his extra
ordinary skill in discovering by the
relative weight Of gold, silver OF
copper whether the patients who
visit him attempt to substitute coins
OF inferior value to the two sover
cigns, and two shillings equivalent,
Ia two guineas, il being contrary &c
etiquette for the physicians to open
the paper containing the fee until
aitor the patient has left the room
Some great ladies in London, while
they do not presume to substitute
coins OF inferior value to the sover,
egns, make a point Of emitting the
concomtant two shilling bits, and
Sir William is equally known for his
particular strong objection to tn,
absence Of the latter coins. On one
occasion, having been handed by q
well-known dowager duchess an en-
vclope which he felt contained only
two sovereigns, no put on his eye
glasses, aud STOPPING down, begar
closely inspecting the floor.
What have you lost, Sir William2'
inquired the titled lady.
Il am looking for tho two shilling,
you dropped, Duchess" replied til,
irate doctor. Her grace prompt,
produced the shillings, aud blushet
as she hurried away.
Doctors fees not infrequently tax,
the form OF titles in the old world
aud at the present moment there ar,
no less than forty-nine physician
and surgeons in England who hav,
handles to their uames all NJ than