The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-20
CONFESSIONS OF A PHYSICIAN.
Many Wonder IL They Are Fitted for
the Profession.

the Profession.
From the Independent
Men who enter the sacred precincts
of medicine are supposed to have a
vocation for this noblest of all pro-
fessions. Is it really true? 1 do not
mean by the question to intimate that
all the men who select medicine as
their life work are ruled by sordid
motives. Heaven forbid! Many are
attracted by the opportunities for ben
efitting their fellow men; others are
led by the allurements which are pre-
sented to the student of science; 9TH
ers still like the dignity and respecta-
bility inseparable from the profession,
and, finally, most of us regard it as
an excellent way of making money.
But. as 1 have said, the very great
majority finally reach a point where
they wonder if they are really fitted
for the profession.
My first step was to call on a drug
gist in my neighborhood and gently
insinuate my desire for a little prac-
tice.
But you have some patients ?" he
asked in a brisk tone.
"Oh, yes; few" I replied. But
scarcely enough to talk about
Well" he said, with the trades
mans laugh, II had no way of discov-
ering that you had any"
What do you mean?" 1 asked, per-
picked at his tone.
Il mean" he rejoined frankly,
that none of your prescriptions ever
come here"
Well" 1 said, weakly, 81 can't help
that"
"Oh, yes, you cam" was the blunt
rejoinder. You can instruct them to
come to me-
There is 10 need to continue the
dialogue forther. 1 remainder with
him for an hour, and before l left 1
had made an arrangement by which
he was to pay me rs per cent. on
the gross amount received from all
prescriptions sent to his store by me.
l also agreed to pay him 25 per cent.
on all money received from patients
sent by him to me. My ears tingled
a little at the thought of the sordid
arrangement, but only for a little
time. His arguments satisfied me. He
said they all did it; it was simply a
game of you tickle me and I'll tickle
you"
COlieaSue OF mine, VINO boosted
the ownership of a horse and carriage.
used to drive at breakneck speed
through the principal streets of the
town in which he resided The neigh
boris all said: What a tremendous
practice that young doctor has. He
scarcely takes time to eat his meals"
1t was all ruse, but it inspired conf
dence in the people and finally they
did flock to him.
.
The young physician I speak of
filled with lofty ideas of duty, deter
mined to devote himself entirely to
smallpox practice. He took all the
precautions that We're counselled by
science and human reason. but other
wise he was absolutely fearless. He
used to vaccinate himself every other
week, and as the siege lasted nearly
three months his arms were almost
covered with scars and scabs from
the virus. He did wonders for HUI
manity He waited on poor and rich
alike. If they had no money he looked
for no compensation. Where they had
he expected a fee in proportion to his
work. He saved many lives. 1t is
such men, and they are not rare, Who
ennoble the profession.
1t is a profession whose days are
made of diplomacy and whose nights
are composed of crises. There is al
ways a high duty calling and there is
usually a mere human man trying to
respond. Had I possessed in the be-
ginning the vocation for my profess
sion which belonged to my friend who
built a great career upon the founda-
ton of a smallpox epidemic, should
long ere this have been either famous
or dead. Such fame comes to a Jen-