Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-25
"MEDICINE AS A BUSIN FSS' SUBJECT OLA
PAPER BY C. S. HARPER BEFORE DOCTORS.

medicine as Business was the
aubiect of the following interesting
paper read by c. s. Harper before
the regular meeting of the Wapello
County Medical society WEDNESDAY
evening:
In very few lines of activity is there
such a sharp line of cleavage as exists
between the business and technica'
sides of the profession of medicine
Each practitioner finds 1t deVolVlhs
on himself to act always in a qua
capacity: to be at one moment ais
interested scientist and the next a
shrewd and careful man or business
This is a strange and more or less III
compatible combination, yet the sue,
cess with which they are compiheu
marks the success of the doctor poth
financially and professionally. "A man
with high ability as scientist can
not pursue his subject devotedly or
give 1t the best that he has unless ne
IA freed from petty worries ABOUT the
money question. On the other nano'
n he pays too much attention to the
business side of medicine he must neg
lect the technical side to the sacrlnce
or his own skill and the loss or tne
community.
The physicians attainments must De
high. His profession requires an I'M
uslal degree of mentality and intellec-
tnal alertness. If he is not progress
siye he Is dead timber The good DOC
TOR never grows old. Mentally, he IS
alvays a young man. He must have
balanced temperament, offsetting en-
thusiasm against cool Judgment. He
must be a man of good address, OF
good habits; magnetic man and an
indefatigable worker. .ag
These are the qualifications neces-
sarv to success In any profession OF
In business. Men who have them are
near the top and receive the rewards
The measure of these rewards IN
money depends upon the business OF
the profession, and think we can all
agree lat least all of US here) that the
same degree of attainments that guam
fies for q moderate success IN medicine
would carry a man much farther IN
law. teaching, preaching or the selling
AZ merchandise If this Is true the
explanation must lie in the nature OF
4 profession that calls to Its pursuit
bv Inherent attraction men who are,
40 class, on higher plane OF aplllty
than those who follow other lines.
The physicians right to adequate re-
muneration cannot be questioned. ne
spends considerable money and valu'
able time in acquiring his education
He waits years for a reputation ana
= paying practice. After that ne
works hard. His hours are Irregular
and his time not his own. He denies
himself the social life of other men
and deprives himself of the society OF
his family. He is unable to get away
from his business long enough for ex-
tensiye travel or recreation. He as
sumes grave responsibilities and car
ries not only his own load OF trouples
but lends his broad back for the carry
ing Of others burdens. He puts MS
courage and sympathy at the disposal
OF the sick. the weak and the fear1ul.
He holds up the hand Of warning to the
hard-driven and overworked ana LOT
bears to consider his own WEAKNESS
OF flesh and soreness OF spirit.
The service which the physician
renders to the community is second ID
none and it is only for service rend-
cred that any man has the right to ex-
meet remuneration. Others may re-
ceive rewards in a wholly dtspropor-
tionate degree, but this is the fault OF
our imperfectly organized society. "A
fi1,ancier may render certain amount
Of service to the community ana re-
ceive therefor enormous reward IN the
way of money and influence. His serV'
Ice to society is probably less tnan
that of the skillful physician but un.
der present conditions the man OF
finance has the whip hand and he is
able to collect his bill. :,
That the physicians services snouio
he literally paid there can be no dis
mite. To develop the utmost compet'
ency Of the practitioner he should DC
able to free his mind to great extent
from small financial troubles. ne
should never need to worry about pc
ing In funds. He should be paid 10
the degree that his family, deprived so
largely of his society and attention
can have all comforts and advantages;
!, 80 that he himself can have occasional
periods Of rest and leisure; and SO
that. finally, he can with advantage
give up professional activities and de-
vote himself, In the rlpeness OF ase
and experience, to his own devices OF
pleasure or studious research.
It is one thing to be owed living
by the world and another thing to col
lect: one thing to deserve a reward
and another to get it. The banker
the lawyer and the merchant seem tc
enjoy the advantage over the doctor
Of superior facilities for collecting
They largely set a definite value upo1
their services in advance and otter
collect in advance. The profession O.
medicine has it's peculiar limitations
"A to it's rewards. The doctor canno
70 to the man who is desperately sicl
and make bargain with him, agree tt
deliver health in exchange for Ger
tain sum of money, payable on deliV
cry OF the desired commodity, regular
discount for cash in ten days. Thu
physician cannot solicit trade or bullt
up his business by advertising. III
cannot ask cash in advance but mus
give credit freely and long time a
that. Calls for his services are urg
ent and haste is necessary. He canno
stop to examine the patients credit