The sun., 1906-02-07
PHYSICIANS, TRI.ALS.
big AnlonE Them IL the Agent with Some.
thing TO Sell

lnnS ~ Sfl.
To THE EDITOR OF The SuN--Sr: "Profes
slonal" in The Sun Of February Is perhaps
student whose ideals are being rudelS
shocked by the treatment he receives at the
hands of physicians on whom he calls as the
representative Of some firm dealing in med
cal supplies. Some OF those physicians Oh
whom he calls have stood in his shoes and
have seen things as he sees them. Their attl-
tude toward what he represents IL the result
OF circumstance
The demands upon II doctors time ASIDE
from the claims of his patients are numerous
His mail is formidable, a thing he dreadd
Fifty circulars a day is not extreme, The
,"mediCal supplies" which these would con-
vince him he is really suffering for lack OF
include patent baby foods. fur goats, get
rich quick schemes automobiles. harnesses.
carriages. tickets. subscriptions without num-
Der always to worthy objects) instruments.
books. batteries, booms. proprietary medi-
cines, the Misrepresentation Of which are
only limited by the English language.
As Ia the mail, so are The representatives
who wish to see him. The line must h drawn
somewhere. If a stupid attendant OCCASION
ally calls us from dinner to meet soap ped,
who Is less insistent he Is following the spirit
II not the letter which in the interest of self
preservation demands that we, place some
have axes to grind at our expense.
-Four REPRESENTATIVES, Of pharmaceutical
wSfs osd me ne ydy once
/ been been in. H. They would , have taken ; from n a a
2da1 2sd 6es to been o tsS % h an sSS h9 es %H
,hs Is "1 not e all The disturbanoe es Continues
One cannot take up the thread Of ones study
thing has obtruded. and one is annoyed a. the
energy. SO dissipated. And for what? That
one might be courteous to an agent who.
@ % us as ons mot Is fee 3sT
privacy has been Invaded by an.advertising
agent and we have been held up--or refused
fssIea, 70 6emand convicted OF rudeness by Pro
:. We do not want to be rude; we do not want
to to-, be disc9ur%te2us % "Professlonai" IN must It
denied access. but that it is the intrusive. firm
that we refuse. and he should not feel hurt
ssssy H. snS ssye h as g5s and he sSs
him a card which may indicate to his employ
ers that he has fulfilled his portion Of the
tie doctors tine and personal attentions TO
prescribe their pills. There e. are even en- times
peppering them with their own pills. Doc
tors get % 60 very humanly tired: o-.,o. =,
the consttutIon Of the the tinted States, Rest
ana leisure with MIN are bought with the
price of salf-denial and are necessary In order
that he. keep himself fit for the tremendous
stra ins be must ever be ready to meet
There are representatives OF firms II Ia a
pleasure to meet. The doctor enjoys con-
verslng with them when they cali at a con
venent season. but he den les himself his own
particular friends. and these do not COM
plain,
The majority OF men sent out by medical
supply houses are impertinent to a degree.
i!mpertnent and gossipy, Some Of these will
follow the doctor around the office thrust
their wares under his nose, keeping UP n
running fire OF, talk about matters Of which
they know next to nothing. and If the doctor
fails to buv insnuate that II is a lack of pros
perity or that he isn't up to date. Sometimes
Young doctors buy Of them. paw them hush
money instead Of showing them the door.
When a man comes in Quietly. with an I
am In o. hurry air, and with the fewest words
states his errand. without opinions, leaves
lteratur or samples and takes his departure
he gains confidence and is likely to be shown
in next time II the doctor is not engaged
II Professional" hasn't had chance to prove
himself he is suffering vicarousy for the
buldozing agent.
II the doctor permitted himself to be frac-
tionallv. divided by everybody with an axe
to grind at his expense the subtractiye proc
ess would quickly wipe him Off the slate, and no
useful purpose served by the sacrifice.
BROOKLYN. Feb 4. Il b. V. A.