The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-20
NEW TO-DAY.
THE COST OF TREATMENT.
The 50 Month Plan Criticized. PHYSICIANS Fees Com.
pared
Words This Subject, Also Few Remarks
corning Advertising.

The question of fees has always been in the
profession a matter of what seems to be I'M
necessary delicacy. Among some doctors it is
believed to be just and right to charge a
patient all that they can get, making the fee
heavier according to the gravity of the disease
and the desperate condition OF the patient.
Among specialists the matter of charges has
had absolutely no limit or reason and we be-
lieve there are many whose claims to being
specialists" rest principally upon the fact
that they charge special fees.
When Drs Copeland, Neal and VIM an
nounced that they would treat all diseases and
furnish medicines at the rate OF 50 a month
fees, and no less heavy bills at the drugstores,
were astonished. One or two, who ii must be
feared, were not entirely disinterested, were
heard to declare otis unprofessionai."
Well, it may be unprofessional, but it's bust
ness. With all due respect to what is profe S
sonal, Drs Copeland. Neal and VIM can see
no legitimate reason why sick man should
not know what it is going to cost him to get
cured, just as well as a hungry man what it
will cost him to be fed, or a man in old clothes
what it will cost him to buy new ones.
At any rate, Drs. Copeland, Neall and VIM
think it is far more important to please the pub
lie than the doctors, and as they have laid
themselves open 10 the charge OF being unpro-
fessional once they will do it again. They will
continue to treat all cases at So d month, in
Guiding necessary medicines, until cure is
effected. 1t is the public who are paying the
bills, and the public are entitled to know just
how much they will have to pay and what they
are paying for
AS TO ADVERTISING.
"Why wouldn't Drs. Copeland, Neal and
VIM be just as successful without advertis-
ing? Pm sure the patients under their care
are constantly sending their friends and neigh
bors to be treated l don't see the need OF their
advertising at all?''
These remarks were made by patient under
the care of these physicians and contain Ger
tain element of truth.
cessful as physicians and specialists without
the aid OF advertising They were successful
and prosperous before their names appeared in
the daily papers. They were specialists first,
the feat, which their imitators sometimes es-
say, of advertising themselves into specialists.
No. Drs Copeland. Neal and VIM were sue
cesSful without advertising. but they were
more successful, their specialties and their
skill are better known to the general public
and their field for usefulness and power for
doing good is more widely extended by its aid.
Conscientiously, as honorable physicians and
as honest men, they believe in advertising.
By systematical. truthful and unquestionable
advertising advertising that will stand fire
and inyestigation-they say from basis OF
printed columns containing thousands of tes-
timonials from worthy and reputable citizens
OF this city,
sThis is the work we do. These are the re-
sults we accomplish. We ask to be judged by
them
REGARDING PATENT MEDICINES.
There has been for years bitter fight be-
tween manufacturers of patent medicines and
the retail druggists on account of the latter
substituting something just as good" for the
more popular patent medicines and pro-
prietarv articles advertised TO cure certain and
all diseases. In measure patent medicines
have been blessing to the poorer classes, but
with the dawning of a new era CONCERNING
physicians fees they are no longer necessary,
When an invalid can secure the services of an
eminent and skillful physician and oil the
necessary medicines to last a month for the
cost OF q few bottles OF natpnt medicine which
| may and may not cure him, more likely the
latter, the question OF substituting something
just as good" by retail druggists has but very
| little interest. Patent medicines never did and