The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-21
The Cost Of Vaccination,

Editor OF Tho Tribune
Sir:-Undcr the heading "Exorbitant Charges"
in Saturdays Times appears the following accu.
sation against the physicians of Scranton: 1T
is neither fair nor honorable to take advantage
OF public excitement or an epidemic TO squeeze
the people,
Mr. Editor I wish TO emphaticaly deny the
charge that physicians are or ever have
been guilty OF taking advantage of public excite.
nent TO squeeze the people. On the other hand,
have been made the butt of ridicule by the
business world for attempting to maintain our
professional dignity by refrainipg from CONNER
cialism.
l DEFY the Times 10 show that the physicians
are charging for vaccination any more than they
daily charge for other professional duties rcqur.
ing much careful attention and risk as does
vaccination.
| agree with the Times when it says that "thc
physician is with lis at our birth, through
sickness and at our death, and we are prone not
to give him the credit for his countless sacri-
fees of health, pleasure, comforts of home, leis-
ure, and many things that go to make life pleas
ant \ physician is practically slave and
ought to be we'll paid for his labor.
l maintain further that in every epidemic OF
smallpox yellow fever, the physicians have
been the greatest sufferers. They have taken
their lives in their hands and, separating them
selves from their families and dear ones, have
| their scanty means for the comforts OF
others; working for others without thought of
remuneration until they weakened by exposure
or oycrwork and succumbed 10 the fatal malady,
or until such time as their services were no
longer required.
Does this look il the physicians neither
''fair no honorable and that they take adj
vantage of public excitement an epidemic to
squeeze the pcople"?,
Moreover, instead of following the spirit OF
cOmmercialism in attempting to increase their
business, the medical profession has always been
the practical philantmopist To it is due all the
advances which have been made, not only to cure
disease, but to prevent it. The central thought
| OF the profession today is sanitation or how to
preserve the health OF the people.
will illustrate this by citing the benefits de-
rived from vaccination. for which we are aC-
| cused of making eXorbtant charges. In prac.
tice Of medicine, published in the year 117j
before vaccination known, the author states
that smallpox was the most common of all dis.
eases, only four or five persons out OF 100 escap-
ing. Out OF this number, seven would die OF tho
disease.
Now, thanks TO the profession for vaccination,
the number OF cases is only small fraction OF
one per cent. For this. the Times says it voices
public opinion in declaring we are charging too
much for vaccinating an applicant
We do not believe that such is the public
opinion. We know, from past experiences, that
the physicians of Scranton have always been
willing and glad TO administer to the wants Of
the needy and il there any persons in this
city too poor TO pay for vaccination, there is no
physician, who, ii they will apply, will not bc
willing to vaccinatc them free of charge. The
honest public is willing TO pay" for what it re-
ceives. II well knows that the practice of medi
cine is the least remuneratiye of all vocations
requiring an equal preparation, ability and skill.
We again agree with the Times when il SAYS that
the large majority OF people would prefer 10 pay
a reasonable fee TO their regular physician to
going TO public station TO get free incubation.
Very truly,
l.. $. Barnes, VI. D.
Scranton, Jan, 90.