Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-04-14
Looker-On In Iona

Alexander. April Ian iowa mer-
chant, who has recently been thru an
operation for appendicitis at the great
hospital Of the United States, gives
some interesting facts OF his personal
experience. On his arrival he found
between Ave and six thousand unfortu-
nate human beings that had come on
similar errand, 1. e., to be cured.
He soon learned there were from sixty
to seventy surgeons and doctors and
that hundreds come and go and never
see the heads Of the institution. On
arrival he had to fill out a card. with
name. residence and supposed disease.
The next day he received a written
notice where to appear for examina-
ton. Then in due course followed his
operation, hospital detention, con-
valensenc cure and pay. It's the lat
ter, the pay part Of the whole business
that is peculiar. Here's the remarka BILE
thing concerning the hospital. ANY,
body and everybody, rich or poor, IL
welcome. If after an examination. an
operation is thought advisable, dates
are made and the whole affair is con-
Quoted as tho every patient could and
does pay. At the hospital, however.
money arrangements are made at so
much per week. which can secure a cot
In ward with others or suite Of
rooms that only "tlle moneyed class"
can afford. The hospital is managed
separately by the sisters OF charity
This merchants experience is that of
all. When the time came to 60 home,
he called at the business office and
asked for his bill. whats the mum
Der Of your card?" asked clerk. He
gave it. Then the clerk looked over a
huge box-like card system case. and
selected the card bearing the same
stance the following conversation fol-
lowed: zone hundred and fifty dol
lars" said the gentlemanly clerk. us
that so. that's more than I expected.
I'm only small storekeeper in Iowa
and it takes me a good while to save
$3.50. understand your price was only
500 for men situated financially as
am isn't that too much? 2" asked the
| merchant. II think not" replied the
clerk, looking at the card. you carry
a stock of about $5,U0J, don't you ?"
yes" "And you own a $1,000 resi-
dence all paid for?" Eyes" "And you
own ten shares in the First National
| Bank?" eyes" "And also some stock
| in your local canning company"
| Eyes" "Now, Mr.. Blank. we think our
| fee is very reasonable. II for any rea-
son 1t is not convenient to pay now,
send 1t to US in three or six months.
No hurry about It," And the merchant
paid. One day long line OF nearly
we'll patients were standing in a row
waiting their turn ITO see the doctor"
ALI felt pretty good, and some sug-
gested they tell where they came from.
Eighteen states were represented. az
well as Canada and Mexico Then
some one else said, suppose we tell
what kind of an operation we have
been thru and it's cost. So the disease
was told, gall stones and appendicitis
being the most general. The next man
70 our referred to merchant spoke up
plainly "appendicitis-s2.o00. TO con-
dole with him the Iowa merchant re-
marked, well. you don't feel that
$4,000 az badly as did my $50. prob
ably pretty rich man. "oh. no.
said he. II am only fairly well on. Got
several acres Of standing timber up n
Canada. Really. don't regret the
price" And then came the announce
ments Of several that Il didn't eost
them anything When they asked fol
their biz. the card wa marked 'sn0
charges" n can be imagined on such
tcards were not marked ssevefaa acrel