The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-01-12
SHOW OFF THEIR ILLS FOR PAY
A STRANGE CLASS OF MORTALS
VINO HAUNT THE CLINICS.
They Turn Their Physical Misfortunes
Into q Means Of Livelihood and
Besides Contribute quite Materially
10 tho Advancement OF Science.

Besides Contribute quite Materially
TO the Advancement OF Science.
Though II Is true that one-half the world
il In ignorance OF how the other half lives,
airy class Of individuals must, ordinarily,
be forced into a more or less conspicuous
position II its existence has any influence,
good or evil, upon society. II is. there
fore, somewhat strange that the class
which knows itself and is known as -show
patients and has a considerable in
fiuence upon the general welfare, should
AVE remained unknown to all except
those with whom it comes into immediate
contact. Those who are familiar with this
class are the teachers at the various medi-
cal colleges. and it IL from these teachers
that the show patients derive their chief
means of subsistence.
Tho members Of this class are forlorn
wretohes, zach with some hideous or pain
full disease or deformity, which is his
stock in trade. Freedom from danger
Of enforced assignment. Inc the reduc-
ton OF life's problems to the keeping OF a
full stomach and the avoidance OF pain.
produces in many instances the happy
g~o-lucky, de~vil-may-care individual one
would expect, one responding TO the stimuli
of physical pleasure or pain only. There
are, however, exceptions here as elsewhere,
and occasionally a show patient may be
found who exposes himself to discomfort
and even great physical pain for the at
tainment Of p~raiseworthy objects. Show
patients are recruited mainly from the
pauper class, and usually fall back upon
private OF public charity and the aims
house when business is dull.
Numerically the show patients are a
weak class. The pauper's Inherent dis
taste for the least effort, which makes him
prefer TO sit idly by the wayside catching
pennies as they are flung by soft-hearted
passersby thar even to enter n life into
which competition enters so rarely as TO
be ~unrecognized. coupled with the fact
that an abnormal condition attracts the
medical teacher only when peculiar, I'M
common, or typical Of a certain form OF
disease, restricts the membership OF this
class TO tens rather than hundreds or thou
sands. But while is numbers are small,
distinctions Of caste are recognized and
bear a close relation TO the patient s earn
ing CAPACITY, consequently to the strange
ness or gravity OF his condition, and TO
his natural sagacity.
The aristocrats are those with fixed
rates of charges which they insist upon
getting, refusing 70 show unless assured
that their fee will be paid. These persons
travel from one end Of the country 10 the
other, calling at the various colleges. and
making the circuit sometimes regularly
every year. The middle class have a
sliding scale Of charges. with, occasionally.
an exceedingly long slide. and they travel
ST. ...ls.- thA frtn lot ann
New York and Philadelphia once n year.
The common people are usually inmates
OF an nlmshouse or ono Of the city hos
pitfalls AID their incomes depend somewhat
upon the generosity Of the professors and
are re ceived in tho form OF tips, The
size Of the tip IL generally understood
among the teachers, however. ana when
a patient IL caI.sd for he knows abou b
he can expect. With these tlIe money
goes TO provide the few Injuries which
the poor wretches got.
The show patients begin their careers
as sclentihc workers in various ways. Usu-
ally il Is either through learning OF the
feid and making IA direct plea for money
on their first appearance, or else by hrst be-
coming dispensary and hospital patients n
gradually drifting into further dependence.
Once fun -fedged show patients, mOdesty
becomes a lost feature Of their mahe-up;
they boldly approach the teachers not
known 10 thsfn and calmly state their
cas- - and expectations Go AM stand
in one Of the medical college diHpensaries
AZ an hour when a professor h about 10
hold a clinic and Ia looking for material.
As he chances around among the waiting
DatiNnts you NAV SOS some miserable SUI
erer Leave his scat, his face wieathed IN
smiles. and approach the doctor.
Ready for me yet. professor he asks.
Tho doctor has seen the man year after
wear and knows his case thoroughly, aud
II IL happens 10 IL in properly With ue
scheme outlined for tie days clinic tie
answer IL always IN the Affirmative ioT
lie Doctor knows tia he cannot hope for
any other case which will ~ well illustrate
what lie wants 20 say ard the patient goes
back 20 his seat 20 wait until he IL called
for ~ well do the ShO~ patentH know
the methods and plan q teaching 81 ea'h
professor dat they rarely make any great
mistake as "a the time tia they can lc
usod Consequently they are rarely TUNED
away Ihs worst they Usually get Il
Come in nsIt sook ! can uso you uen
Ia sOmo very unusual 'ases igf 81
ample. a peculiar condition WHICH ias
called Tor " Las follow ed sone "poration
~ the aTdinaTv the show Iatterte
are IA great demand, and ono may orcs
siorAlly witness a. inouhFnuF a Ihtfht
attempting a. arrange The d'ct"Ts lih"
And sunrcodIng llu oNcHioaf ray
~. e-snT como g. 49, ~ ,ul could ace
me O. IA, OF g. D. NJ u.dHy n you want
m. . un ON G. o. az il-hifif
10 ihiragu a.. Al rFh ah nsNi
iusi st dySh q unuaiu uuul ] 80" sin' .
Lcro N ! haven't 80 ~Iai 'ip"i~l
iis s.0~ rsiwt o. mos DO q
really sulns g. illtaE br al tiaIf
y rn - save 90 uu Dut r.o uIus q ia
sfrsal dgspda rn.r~iai go 'H"Hf''
sfaislss ni.rr rluuutriH D.
ia.I vhiri irtsuHffrl ufaIs an siti
taf. e. % araIfN a. &c. .aHH Nn| lf %