Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-07
FEES
RECEIVED By
DOCTORS
washington Post.

- n view of the editorial discussion here
and there called forth by the news
that no publicity will be given to tha
individual fees paid to the physicians
who attended the late President McKin-
lev. a special interest attaches to the
facts brought out by The London Express
in an article on King Edwards medical
advisers reprinted in The Sunday Post
We do not know that there is any ooJec-
ton. in the present instance, to letting the
syroup of experts who ministered faithful
~. though in vain, to our dying president
settle their relative rewards between
themselves. Congress did not hesitate 70
set q money value on their services; and
as they were all physicians and surgeons
of standing, and gracefully gave way TO
one another so as to spare the country
any disagreeable aftermath of controver-
sy, it seems perfectly reasonable to turn
the money over to them and ask no furtn-
er questions. -,
The kings physicians, II appears, will
he paid IL at all, out of their royal pa
TENTS private purse and no one VIII De
the wiser unless they care TO speak Tney
are already in receipt of fixed income
as court physicians-one which looks
rather small beside the record OF which
they have to do to earn it and the vast
responsibility resting on them, but large
in comparison with what one OF our nil
itary or naval surgeons gets as his rou-
tine salary. and for which he Is expected
to wait upon the family of the command
er in chief in addition to his regular du-
ties. If billeted for such a task. The king
physicians are men trained in all branch
es of their profession and eminent in pri-
vate practice, and in those respects, OF
course, have the advantage over any ON
Ger of either armed service
AS our London contemporary says, the
record fee is still that paid DR.. Dimsdale
for his interest in the case of Empress
Catharfne, of Russia, a fact which seems
the most remarkable when we reflect that
the incident occurred about 150 years ago,
and that the medical and surgical science
has moved a long way forward since
then. But Catharine's successor, the late
car, did pretty well when he paid Dr.
Zacharine, of Moscow, $4,000 for two
DAYS use of his time and skill; and one
East Indian potentate is known TO nave
given an English physician resident In his
doninions $4,000 for a quarters treat
ment Of his rheumatism.
In this country the most notable pay
ment by congress for medical and surgi-
cal attendance on president was In the
case of the Garfield assassination, when
the group Of doctors received $zI,6Oo'
although the patients illness had ex-
tended over a period OF more tnan
eleven weeks and some Of the at
tendants had been obliged TO stay almost
continuously at the bedside or within caI
Their combined bills, as rendered, footed
up SIS. go; behind the savage reduction
however, lay an ill-concealed professional
quarrel.
Patients in private life, or their estates,
often pay as high prices for medical SER
vice as governments and rulers. Samuel
J. Tilden's executors, for example, faceo
one physicians bill for $4,000; Christie
pher L. Magee's one for $4,000; and cases
are respectfully vouched FOR where two
months attendance on young lady cost
her millionaire father $4,000, the care OF
the health Of a yachting party on few
months cruise $4,000. and a run from
New York to San Francisco $4,000. Fees
ranging from $1,000 to s.. 500 a day, by pre-
arrangement, or charges as high as So,VVs
for a single surgical operation, are not
uncommon. AS the finest expert talent
is always available for the poorest patient
in these times, If ii means the possible
saving of a human life, the medical men
feel that they have a right to adjust the
equilibrium in their own favor when pa
tient is abundantly able to meet liberal
charge.