The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-19
DR., KUHL Man upon FEES,
A Plea For the Struggling Ply
SiCianS Whose Families
Are in Want.
Other Medicos Who Fail to Perceive
the Evils Lashed by
the Doctor.

est is time that the people were en-
hghtened on the quackery extanr in this
City," said DR.. Huffman yesterday. "The
system now in vogue among hospital and
fraternal societies for providing medical
and surgical treatment is a horrible one.
"Fifty or sixty physicians by political
pull and you-tickle- me-and-Ill- tickle-you
methods become hospital or lodge physi-
clans and monopolize nearly the entire
practice of this City, while the families of
hundreds of others of the profession are
actually starving. This does not exist
outside of California. The Sacramento
Medical Society sat down upon it long ago.
"The hospitals make no discrimination
in receiving patients. Even millionaires
go there to receive treatment. A hospital
physician receives $125 for 400 visits. This
averages 20 cents per visit. What outside
physician could compete with thatP Hos
pitfalls, though ostensibly for the poor, in
order to increase their patronage even
make inducements to the rich. | have had
several good patients coaxed away by these
hospital practitioners. People are roped
in on false pretenses, and the majority OF
patients in both the German and French
hospitals have incomes from $4,000 to 500,
600 year.
"In fraternities physicians neglect their
duty. You cannot expect man to do
much for cents. Fraternity members
cry, Il would rather have you to prescribe
for me, but can't; must take the lodge
physician
all medical law, and every law, human
and divine, and they are disgrace to their
profession. Doctors who will not join
these organizations from principle are
stigmatiZed as fools. 1t is system of
medical slavery for the patient. 1t is
ring pure and simple, and made up of
worthless men, but these systems we pro-
pose to regulate, for it is nothing more nor
less than quackery, or an advertising
scheme for a few men. A physician should
Judge himself when his services are to be
gratis, not be governed by an organization
which lowers the dignity of himself and
his profession"
Several other physicians of the opposite
persuasion were interviewed, among whom
DIR. Fitch was inclined to ridicule the idea.
Combination is the spirit of the age"
said he. "Why should it not express itself
in the medical profession? | believe the
community has rights as well as the doc
tors.
II have been the physician of several
lodges of Foresters and in hospitals, and
have found that they pay nearly as well as
professional fees. Thousands of homeless
young men find place to go when they
are SICK Wno Cou1u aoI ailoIu O1AeA naouA-
cal treatment. 1t is the old maxim of
Dumas, this system: 'One for all and all
for one There are idle workmen in every
profession, and these often exclaim at their
1uckier brothers."
DR.. J. F. Morse, speaking of the German
Hospital, said: "Anv physician, no mat
ter who he is, has a right to take any pa
tient of his to the hospital, and may treat
that patient there without any interior
ence whatever. 1t is the endeavor of the
those who can afford no other, but some
times people who can pay leak In. 1t is
not the case that no discrimination is
shown"
DR.. Gross considered the matter entirely
too delicate to deal with until he had seen
some of his confreres. He, however, an
ticipated warm measures at the next meet
ing of the medical society.