Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-01
Professional Services.
(Washlngton PostJ

| washington POst)
| The exact value Of professional services
Is a question which has not been salts.
factorily determined, and anything ar.
preaching a definite basis on which 10 e..
tablish a foundation for the solution of
the problem is I'm line with the march .f
progress An important factor. from fha
professional point OF view, is che question
OF the capacity Of the victim t0 d.s-are.
AZ least such a conclusion is hold rv
those dealing with professional men. d,
be legitimate and justified by auprtDr.
large and increasing number uf r..-
pie are not at all backward about saving
that the charges of professional Non ar.
governed by the financial condition vi
the party with whom they are doing bust.
ness. IL Is asserted and with much .a-
parent candOr, that the value of o.. ssr-
vices rendered is charged for more DO a.-
cOrdance with how much the served can
and viii stand than with what fhe s.r-
vice IS actually worth. The complaint is
made that there is no way OF fixing The
market value Of material Of this desllp-
ton.
In ordinary business transactions there
are market quotations, more or less exc
act, from which an estimate can De- made
OF the real worth OF the article. blt .g
matters professional there Is no stauHaI
Of value. For instance IN the settlement
Of estates, il occasionally happens Hst
the bill Of the lawyers having the settle
ment in hand appears exorbtant tl NJ.
heirs. I'm few cases the heirs have t.r
'enturesome enough 10 dispute The DID
and ask for redress. When q case 0f this
Kind occurs the judge usually proceeds 90
F4..f. - a.
he business OF the BILL and they one ana
MI agree that the amount IS only reason
lble. The jury and the judge au fs.r.
awyers. only one conclusion Is possible
he bin is all right. and the heirs have
imply added an additional charge tJ the
core
Tho bin Of the doctor who attended the
ate editor Of the 81. Louis Gi1hg-Dem0-
rat has been presented for medical ala
nd other services, the ether services
eing recOunted in a prologue 10 the itam-
zed account and Is regarded as the most
comprehensive and far-rcaChing BIN ever
in st. Louis. The visits age
harged at the rate Of $40 each generally
Though n few brief moments are cs.i-
lated 10 be worth only S. while now and
hen a call valued az Nj appears Tho
ggregate amount is s. 800. and IS Item
led, but the merits Of the case are t5d
the prologue:
Estate Of Joseph b. McCullagh 10 Dr..
c. II. Hughes. Dr.:
. For professional services rendered from
ily. 1894. 10 January /. 1897. the date os
s decease. including medical advice Is
the sanitary care OF his brain. me
edlcal management OF his person ue
'nduct Of his affairs with "a view tO t1e
Of his mental energies. the
evention OF disease. complications. ami
@ prolonging OF his life, together with
q accompanying incomplete momorr-
IN Of visits made. physical and chem.-
/ ana microscopical examinations by
assistant. Or. Booth. and myself exc
'oIdinary detention az visits ETC.. the
rVlce being practically an almost cone
ant daily and continuous one from and
and between the dates given
Besides almost daily visits. this Din
20 includes other unitemlzel services.
IN AZ professional consultations arI
icited advice about the rearing of ts
opted daughter, Gladys: questions on
'feation and advice as 20 travel and
ere to go. and rs 10 the ablrG0nrs
I conduct OF his work the abandoning
liquor, discussing It's effect: dlssuldHs
from the club. inducing him 90 take
iii'll0 ~ nome, ana the bfOlUNeiN.N
his life and usefulness bv constantly
airing his head from the consequences
excessive alcohol and tobacco ana
ping him by enforced sleep and chew-
nutrition fit for work he could H'
erwise have performed the last ta0
RS of his life
'regate amount OF bill........ .so- 10
ui's .''- ........ ................. TO W
par'nce que .......... ..........S5 3lI nd
the estate Is worth nearly 10000
Dill viii be probably paid. Perhaps
an all-around man. medical adviser.
mess confident. and receptacle in,o
ch TO pour domestic doubts and ur-
ainties. the Doctor gets no more thaa
que but the bill is unique and Is
ting with pointers for young pr1cu-
ers But market quotations arc san
ing for professional services. and
Their the doctor Is paid IN fun or uUl
are still In the same state Of uncgr-
" as we We're before this bin ap-
ed. Would a poor man-th8t b..
paratiyely poor man. with an estate
ay $4,000, have left such a bill agaIl--
= tot II \