New-York tribune., 1905-06-18

this specialist is numbered she would have had
his serTlces free, and ii in hospital that
pernflEss, nprovdent girl belonged. She has never
paid her bill to this day though entirely we'll, and
she is still talking bout tho SPECIALISTS deserton
OF her in her hour need. Should the physician
follow very frequent custom OF the day and turn
her account lawyer collecting firm,
he would merely cGst her her position and IN the
end fail the amount due hiTa.
Another which occurred in q small city
was for a long time cited as heartlessness on the
doctors part because the general public kne"
nothing Of the circumstances, sef-wied grl
left comfortable home provided by a married
brother end the pace that kills. She landed
In a private hospital with appendicitis. The sur
geon called upon operate ilade the nurses wait
Until he called ZIP the girls brother city offlclal
drawing large salary. He demanded that the
brother come to the hospital and sign paper
holding himself responsible for the payment of his
sisters bill
The hue and cry raised over this evidence OF
hear;lessness are something that be understood
only by those who have lived in small cities where
news travels from stoop to stoop and porch 10
porch. Yet the hospital struggling for exist
erce unessssted by municipal authorities It's
charity wares were overhowing, and there was no
reason IN the doctors opinion, why the girl who
hao wflfully left her home should not be cared
for by this brother, who was perfectly aole - neIp
the hospital in its good work.
Many a patient facine crisis rallying from an
operation thinks how promptly he will pay the at
tending physician. but when life once more courses
through his veins. with pleasures draining ms
uurse the good resolutions apt to fade ana Inc
doctor is paid not promptly but on the siowest
irstanent plan.
If takes keen fnancier to collect doctors bills
A successful young physician quotes a case IN
point he was called in TO see the two-yeaf-oid
baby OF q social acquaintance. slight operation
was urgent The doctor stepped at once TO the
telephone and communicated with his father, and
the latter inquired to the charges KNOWING
that the father uas none too well of. the doctor
replied promptly 's25-just half OF what he usual
" charged for the operation
The father told him to go ahead so he sent for
the ans.sthetizer. and in Jess than an hours time
the operation was over the doctor having sup
Piled all bandages, dressings and small articles
needed. from nearby drug store at which he hap
pened to have an account. The young mother had
no money in the house. Following the operation,
the physician paid half dozen visits TO the child
and several times afterward the mother brought
the child to his Office.
When the first of the month rolled around he
sent in his bi and received response. Another
month and still a third passed. and at the end
of the fifth month the physician and the wee
patients father met for the first time since the
operation There a moment of embarrass-
n1ent and then the debtor made his apologies. He
had Just changed his position and financially
embarrassed but hoped send the money within
a few days.
The few days. into few weeks. and there
came an evening when the doctor-a most unusual
privilege for hin-dropped into his club. there to
hear the details Of great poker game played ia
the cara room the night before during which the
father of the baby had. out winner by
some SO BY careful questioning, he learned that
his debtor had been playing poker with varying
success at Is limit during all the time that
he had owed for the baby's operation The letter