The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-09-16
FRAUD USED BY DOCTORS.
Chicago Physician Says That Amer
lean People Like to Be Humbugged.

Chicago Physician Says That Amer
A physician. in Chicago Tribune
The late Phineas T. Barnum knew just
what he was talking about when he
said that the American people love 10
be hunbugged.
No one knows this better than the
physician who comes into such init
mate relations with the private life and
feelings of the people. The strenuous
life that we live to large extent makes
US an artificial people--that is to say,
we live an unnatural and unreasonable
life.
The American, with his push and bus
tie thinks that money and persistence
will accomplish anything, and if he gets
an ache or a pain. or even a serious
ailment, he rushes to the doctor and
wants to be cured in double quick or
der. The consequence of this state of
affairs is that the doctor is compelled
to humor his patient.
If he has some organic trouble the
doctor has to treat him like a child.
pet him and ecold him, and resort to
all sorts of devices to make him take
the necessary rest and medicine to ef-
feet a cure. On the other. hand, If
there is really little the matter with
the patient, he still has to be humored.
In nine cases out of ten he becomes in
dignant if he is informed that his trou-
BILE is trivial: he insists that it is Sc
rious, and must be treated according
ly.
do not wish it to be inferred from
this part physicians resort to willful
deception. They may frequently be
guilty of harmless little practices which
do no one harm and often give the pa
tent great pleasure and relief. On the
whole, / do not know of any body of
men who are more devoted to the no
blest traditions Of their profession than
the physicians of this generation and
this country.
Hence ii must not to 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 rev.
erence. They are intended to illustrate
some curious little phases of human
nature.
One morning a millionaire came to
my office. / knew the man and was
aware Of the fact that he had recently
inherited a large sum Of money. For
more than forty years of his life he had
been a man of the greatest Industry.
He labored early and late and did more
physical work than usually falls to a
all these years he enjoyed perfect
health
When he Unexpectedly came into the
possession of his fortune, he changed
his entire mode OF life. II did not take
him many years to undermine his good
health. When he came to me he had
an unhealthy complexion, and was evil
IDENTIFY in the throes of Indigestion; but
he had made study Of his own case
and was satisfied that he was nj SUD
ject for apoplexy.
No doubt he would have been In time;
but at this stage Of the game ne was
only in the first stages Of our national
disease.
Come, my man." he said, In tones
Of authority. Il want your best judy
ment IN this case. I've got the money
and want TO be cured"
ADopicxy Averted.
ventured the suggestion that a Ut
tie dieting might improve his condl-
ton. But he few into a rage ana
said n ! could not understand the SER
ious nature Of ms oeeo he would have
10 so elsewhere.
Then ] got down 10 business ana
smnfhered my conscience b. assuring
myself that my method would be best
for tho man in the end made
thorough examination, looked grave,
and told HIM that BE cafe Wa serious