The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-01
A Physicinn's Protest.
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sir,-I see in your Sunday issue OF
February 2ad an article concerning
the removal Of tho license tax on ply
sicians. and signed by w. II. Goodwin,
an old Confederate soldier Of Avon,
Nelson county, Va. To my mind. 1t is
SO unjust to physicians and comes
With such poor grace from AN old Con-
federate soldier that I feel In duty
bound TO reply. or all classes OF peo-
dior has less cause than any to kick
on the removal OF the license tax on
physicians. l can certify that am
borne out In this opinion BY what VIVA,
sicians In my neighborhood. Soon at
ter tho bill was passed pensioning the
old Confederate soldiers they came
TO me in quite large numbers. Every
which had been the rounds, and which
finally came down to me for the all
important physician's certificate. with
out which they were worth nothing.
animation. and no little time was
spent In questioning them as to all
ments, etc. but have never charged
one of these old lren one red cent.
done So. This is also the practice, as
! have learned, that other physicians
hereabout employ. These old fellows
not one in a hundred-will even ask
you what your charge will be. They
viii not charge them anything. They
peal to the PHYSICIANS sympathy. Few
physicians. II any when they think
of the terrible. hardships which these
old soldiers underwent during the war.
and their struggles for living after
wards, and the innrmities OF old age
which most of them now have. will
have the heart to charge them any
thing. On the contrary. they are per-
fectly willing to help these old SOL
diers In every, way they can to obtain
the small pittance which the State is
propriation for pensions has been in
creased no doubt many more will be
coming to us. Now suppose we did
charge these old soldiers for filling
out our part of their. application blanks
say s: each. which would be rea-
sonable fee. I daresay. with this fund
We could pay the license tax and then
have some left. But who would do
hundred. Probably Mr.. Goodwin does
old Confeds do. and every one for
whom have filled applications were
grateful, and I feel sure. Mr.. Goodwin
old Confederates as whole. am
simply writing this article to show
what charity is shown the old Con-
federate soldier but could go on and
the physicians do. both for the poor
old soldier and other deserving poor.
and for which they receive no pay. Mr..
Goodwin states that charity work by
physicians in his county Is a thing
of the past. ] am sure this is not
the case in other counties, and, prob.
ably. u he goes TO the bottom OF
things be will find. al least, quite a
good deal Of charity work in his c.onn-
ty. especially in those cases which are
deserving of 1t. OF course. physicians
have to protect themselves from be.
is no charity to wait upon this class.
Who are able t. pay and wnnt IL, pay.
doctors for not giving their time and
attention to this 1ngratefml class.
ofense ut this attempt to answer his
article. but that he Will investigate
farther. re he does. ! think he will find
that the doctors of Nelson county are
not such an uncharltable set as he
would have us believe. and that the
repeal of the license tex on physicians
of VIRGINIA Is not such = bad thing:
after all "DOCTOR.'' (
Max Meadows. Va. Feb. 25, 1905