Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-11-06
Medical Profession and the Public

as to the value CT any form Of treat
ment. Statistical information cover
, ing hundreds Of similar cases is the
only evidence that proves or disproves
the merits OF any treatment.
Church and lodge affiliations. social
distinctions. avoirdupois, or pleasing
personality do not make doctor,
Notwithstanding the fact that the Sc
faction Of family physician is more
often dependent upon one or more OF
these factors than by consideration of
| lffs medical ability.
| The selection OF the family physician
should be accomplished only after the
! most thorough investigation into his
| professional attachments. His gradua-
ton from reputable college Of medi-
cine may indicate a good start, but a
| good start does not always win the
race. He who would finish in the
front ranks must keep everlastingly at
| it or be distanced.
| Modern medicine is science: new
truths, new methods are being adj
vanceu every day. The time is past
when the half-baked make believe
gentry of the profession can make
good Their career will be meteoric.
| The modern physician must deliver the
goods.
| The regular medical profession be-
lieves in the honest, scientific treatment
OF disease. We accept and use any
treatment which has proven by test to
&c the best. Various periodicals, or
CARNATIONS and individuals have at
| tempted to belittle the medical frater-
nifty on the charge of medical trusts.
Now trusts or combinations have for
their motive pecuniary gain by obtain
ing control of some commodity by
! which the selling price may be raised
or lowered at will. and in which sup
ply and demand are only relative.
Nowhere in any medical organiza-
ton is there any requirement in the
matter OF fees. The fee question is one
which varies in every community.
Custom, skill, weather, roads-all
affect the valuation of service render
ed.
Fee bills are simply compilation Of
ordinary charges for ordinary cases
under ordinary conditions and are only
a convenience and are not binding. Ev-
cry physician does work that is never
paid for. The poor are always with
! US. 1t Is his privilege to charge for
F., his services what custom and the con-
ditions OF given case would be con-
sidered just and reasonable. Doctors
have to live. They have the same ex-
pense to keep up their homes as any
one else. They have horses or auto
mobiles to buy, books, instruments.
Office rent, and help. donations and
| post graduate work, which they should
take and which you compel them 10
take. that they may know the latest
and best ideas in the profession.
Many people fail to consider that a
professional man obtains his profess
sional education at secrifice of much
money and time: that it entails an ac-
tual expenditure OF from $4,000 to $780,
900 and four to seven of the best years
of his life. This time which would be
reasonably worth $1,000 year. added
TO money actually spent means an in
vestment of from 10000 to $4,000
| The doctor is entitled TO an income
from his money invested just the same
/ as the merchant expects reasonable
income from a $4,000 to 900 stock
! OF goods.
! After that both the doctor and the
merchant should be compensated for
their own services in the business,
i such compensation to be fixed by the
quality and quantity OF work perform
ed.
Medical organization has for its pur-
pose the advancement Of medical
science which embodies the prevention