Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-03-12
When Doctors Have Unions.



called in. He looked somewhat an
noyed when the first case was ex-
planned to him.
81 don't see why you called me- he
said.
"And why not, doctor?" inquired
the head of the house.
why, the case is clearly one that
is out of my province" he replied.
"But surely it is not a serious case,
persisted the head of the house. ''The
child is merely troubled with an ear
ache, and 1 thought possibly some
simple remedy"
ooh, the remedy is simple enough"
interrupted the doctor impatiently;
'Dut you will have to call in an aurist
to prescribe for the youngster"
''Why, doctor, it can't be beyond
your skill to cure simple earache."
Certainly not, sir; certainly not,
exclaimed the doctor Indignantly. Il
could cure it in five minutes, sir, but /
am not permitted to do SO under the
rules of the Physicians and Surgeons
Union You evidently do not under
stand the situation. Since the labor
union idea has been carried into the
professions and other lines of business
each of us has his own particular
work to do, and dare not encroach
upon the work of anyone else. Why,
sir, it would be as serious matter
for me to treat a case that rightfully
belongs to an aurist as it. would for a
RI drive q noi1 in
house to avoid calling in carpenter.
The union would fine me heavily, and
I might even be dropped from it en-
tirely, in which case would have
difficulty earning living. You must
call in a specialist, and I would rec
ommend DR.. Wilkins
whats the matter with DR.. Bark
err asked the head of the house. she
lives nearer and I could get him more
easily"
wouldn't do at ALL" replied the
doctor decidedly. Gle may be quite
as good an aurist as DR.. Wilkins, but
he doesn't belong to the union, and
if he were called would have to
withdraw as your family physician.
The rules do not permit me to work
with a nounion man."
The householder sighed and said he
would send for Dr. Wilkins.
'But before you go, DOCTOR" he
said, II wish you would look at John
ny's eyes. They have troubled him
good deal of late, and I shouldn't
be surprised to find he is troubled
with granulation of the eyelids."
"Eyes?" exclaimed the doctor;
''eyes, sir? Why, I might as well
throw my union card into the street
as do such thing. You surely can
not be in your right mind to ask such
thing Send for DR.. Wallingford,
the oculist, if the boy has anything
the matter with his eyes,"
but, great heavens, doctor!" pro-
tested the head of the house, "think
Of the expense of employing SO many
physicians of one kind or another!"
Cant help it, sir. I dare not dis
obey the rules of the union"
But you never raised such objec-
tons before"
'The union was formed only re-
Gently, SIR explained the physician.
Before it was organized I was at
liberty to do whatever my learning
qualified me to do but it is different
now"
ooh, all right If must, I must"
returned the head of the house re-
signedly. "At any rate, you can attend
to my wife's case"
whats the matter with her?" in
quired the doctor.
"Her nerves. She has been troubled
with"
"Send for DR.. Smithkins, the neu-
rologist," interrupted the DOCTOR If
he ever learned I had prescribed for
disordered nerves or anything in that
line he would prefer charges against
me, and the fine wouldn't he a cent
less than $500. Surely you, being a
man of the world and presumably
this, sir. It is inexcusable in you thus
to waste my time and tempt me to
violate my solemn pledges to my fell
low practitioners. If / should report
the facts to the union / have no doubt
boycott would be declared against
you, and you would experience great
difficulty getting medical treatment at
ALL
Again the head Of the house sighed.
''Let it pass, DOCTOR" he said. 81
assure you had no sinister design in
calling you in, and there certainly is
one case you can treat"
"And what may that be?"
why, my eldest daughter, Mabel,
seems to have overworked herself at
school, and think her brain is slight
ly affected. She had a bad fright last
night, too, and today she has been
somewhat Eighty and irresponsible.
There are vagaries that"
Send for DR.. Williamson, the
alienist, SIR" interrupted the doctor
shortly. 'You seem determined to lead
me into trouble, and the only safe
thing for me to do seems to be to re-
tire shall take n1aaS11re sir in