The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-09-21
FRAUDS USED BY DOCTORS.
Times When the Deception Of Patients is
Justifiable.
A Physician in the Chicago Tribune.

lust what he was talking about when
he said the American people love 20
be humbugged.
No one knows this better than the
physician who comes into such inti.
mate relations with tie private life
and feolilgs Of the people. The siren
uous life that we live to large ex-
tent makes US an artificial people
that is to say, we live an unnatural
and unreasonable life.
The American, with his push and
business, thinks that money and
persistence will accomplish anything,
and if he gets an ache or pain, or even
serious ailment, he rushes to the
doctor and wants to be cured in dou-
ble-quick order. The consequence
Of this state Of affairs is that the
doctor is compelled {, humor his patti
ent.
If he has some organic trouble the
doctor has to treat him like child,
pet him and scold him, and resort to
all sorts OF devices to make him take
the necessary rest aud medicine to eff
feet cure. On the other hand, if
there is really little the matter with
the patient, he still has TO be humor-
ed. In nine cases out Of ten he be-
comes indignant if he is informed that
his trouble is trivial; he insists that it
is serious, and must be treated accord
ingly.
do not wish it to be inferred from
this that physicians resort to willful
deception. They may frequently be
guilty Of harmless little practices
which do no one harm and often give
the patient great pleasure and relief.
On the whole, do not know of any
body of men who are more devoted to
the noblest traditions of their profess
sion than the physicians Of this gen.
Grafton and this country.
Hence it must not be assumed
that the relation Of the little incidents
and anecdotes that follow are meant
to be frivolous at the expense of a
class of men who are worthy of the
highest reverence. They are intend
ed to illustrate soma curious little
phases Of human nature.
One morning a millionaire came to
my Office. I knew the man and was
aware Of the fact that he had recently
inherited large sum Of money. For
more than forty years of his life he
had been man Of the greatest indus
try. He labored early and late and
did more physical work than usually
falls to man in his condition of life.
During all these years he enjoyed per-
feet heath.
When he unexpectedly came into
the possession Of this fortune he
changed his entire mode Of life. It
did not take him many years to un-
dermine his good health. When he
came to mo he he'd an unhealthy com-
plexion, and vas evidently ia :hs
throes Of indigestion; but he had made
study Of his own case and was satis-
fed that he was ut subject for apo
p!e4y.
No doubt he would have been in,
time, but at this stage Of the game
he was only at the first stages Of our
national disease.
Come, my man." he said, IL zones
Of authority, 4 want your best judg-
ment in THE case. I've got the mon
ey and want to be cured
1 yentured the suggestion that a
little dieting might improve his con-.
dition. But he feW into rage and
said il I could not understand the seri-
ous nature Of his case he would have
to 60 elsewhere. , al, 3-ss
Then I got down to, business and,
smothered my conscience BY assuring
myself that my, method would be best
for the manSin the end. I made a
thorough examination, looked grave,
and told him that hiss case was seri-.
Gus indeed; in fact, Ilooked 50 grave
that the man became thoroughly
alarmed, and offered me- fabulous fees
! il Ilcould only effect q cure. E5:
Imade no pretenee Of giving him
medicines and then prescribing q daily
routine which / trusted would change
his condition. First i told him that
automobiles would be fatal III his case,
that his nervous condition Was
Drought mp to such 8 state that he,
scould not stand the straiin. 4 s; .5S s
8 What Isreally wanted was TO force
him % take more sxaroias. I told hin
Ia Il ~ ~.