East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1906-10-04
WHY IT PAYS TO
BE A PHYSICIAN

When the prince of wales was sick
at Sandringham, his physician, Sir
William Gull received for four weeks
attendance, $4,000, and the title Of
baronet. Pretty good pay-s12,5OO a
week, more than s17S5 per day.
What" exclaimed a man who got
a bill from a surgeon for $1,000 for
half an hours work? Why, I never
heard of such a charge!"
mo" said the surgeon coolly, "of
course not. For the half hours work,
So; for the know how, $685."
La Peyronie, the physician who at
tended Louis XIV of France received
a fee which much exceeds these. The
king gave him an estate comprising
five villages and 207 farms, which
produced a yearly income equal in
purchasing power to $4,000. His
majesty had only slight fever.
Catherine II of Russia, one of the
most extraordinary women that ever
lived heard of the treatment to pre-
vent smallpox by innoculation; and
hearing, believed. She made arrange
ments to get physician from London
and DR.. Dimsdale, a we'll known prac-
titioner of the time. agreed to go. He
travelled to st. Petersburg, where he
duly innoculated her majesty, and
suppose some others applied. What
he received from the others l know
not, but from Catherine his fee was
$50, 900 in cash, SO, 900 for travelling
expenses, title and a life pension of
s2500 a year. All this for two min
utes' work in which no know how"
was needed, for any person can scratch
an arm and rub lymph on its surface.
Probably this was the highest sum
ever paid for so slight an operation.
There was a great outcry when the
question came up of paying the sur
geons who attended President Garfield
in his last illness, and congress finally
appropriated $4,000 for the services
of the entire staff, which included DR..
Frank Hamilton of New York, and
DR.. Agnew, two of the foremost sur
geons in the country. In addition
there were DR.. Bliss of Washington.
and DR.. Douglas, who acted as per-
sonal attendant. The Illness lasted
three months. The fees in this case
were exceedingly small, for either DR..
Hamilton or DIR. Agnew might have
charged the full amount with perfect
propriety. ".-
General Grant was attended by DR..
Douglas, who gave up his practice
and devoted himself exclusively to the
case for five months, and DR.. Douglas
mr. hra
dy spent about one-half this time with
the general and for his services and
those of the other physicians $4,000
was paid. - rIR
The charges made were very small.
Had General Grant been rich man
DR.. Shrady could have legitimately
charged $2500 a month, in view of the
fact that he had to travel to Mount
McGregor to see his patient. Such a
sonable one from a surgeon of his
eminence in the profession.
Had General Grant been the prince
Of Wales and had DIR. Shrady lived in
London instead of New York. he
would probably have received $780,
900 in cash and title besides.
The income OF medical men de-
pends on their fees. In New York an
authority on the subject gives the fol-
lowing estimate: Two or three physi-
clans make over 100000 year,
four or five range from $4,000 to
$50, 900. 50 from $4,000 to 100000,
$50 from SIC, 900 to $4,000, about 300
from $4,000 to $4,000. 1900 from s2.-
900 to $4,000. and the remainder from
5000 to S1000.-Youth's Companion.