The New York herald., 1921-08-10
The Surgeons Fee.
Why in One Case the Amount Asked
Was SS2,500.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD AL Ine
age OF IS, with the boyhood experience
Of having worked in dry goods store,
also a New York real estate office. after
three months training In a factory to
learn the business Of wall decorating,
found myself in Paris. France. repre-
senting the firm at the worlds fair OF
1900 While there l visited the Dupuy-
tren Museum and the School of Medicine
and became interested in the study of
medicine, cabled back 10 this country
for entrance to a medical college. re-
turned to this country by steerage and
entered upon my course OF studies In
October, 1900.
AS I had not graduated from high
school it was necessary in addition 10
my medical studies to take up night
school work, thus completing my last
year of high school and first year Of
medical study in the one year. I worked
my way through college. aided by my
parents, my mother sending me SIS q
week, which she was able 10 accomplish
by doing without a maid.
During my freshman year in college
received an injury to my leg which
nece ssitated my being laid up in a hos
pitai and. needing all the pennies for
my education, I entered q charity hos
pital. receiving excellent care, and after
ward became the head surgeon Of the
ward in which ! had been charity
patient. With the exception of this
time my college vacations were spent
in various kinds OF hospital work. for
which I received some remuneration.
At the end of four years college work
and two years hospital interneship. hay
ing served as ambulance surgeon. house
physician and house surgeon. ] found
myself with but five cents, with which
bought a cigar, had an enjoyable
smoke and the next morning began the
practice OF medicine and surgery in New
York city with nothing but myself and
my books I have served the public
without vacation except for an occa-
sional week end, summer and winter,
everag ging four to five hours n day in
charity hospital work l served my
college without pay in the department
of anatomy from assistant demonstrator
TO next to the highest in the chair; in
the department of obstetrics from lee
turer TO assistant professor In the de-
partment OF gyn@cology from lecturer to
assistant professor, and received pro-
fessorship in clinical surgery in January.
1919. My hospital work in addition to
the above teaching duties was five years
that of obstetrician.
On one hospital staff ten years syn@.
/, 80
of the largest general hospital in the
United States. where / am now an at
tending surgeon. All boyhood dreams
realized successful. During this time
my fees and financial remuneration were
such that had 10 establish credit cap
ital of $4,000. az to do this work Il
had cost me SAL, 1,975.o4 more than had
received but knowing the traditions OF
the profession had the hope and faith
that some day my services would be
required by somebody who could afford
to pay what those services were worth.
Such a case has occurred In that OF
tho serious injury by accident to the
daughter of wealthy man In which all
my skill, knowledge and four months
time we're required TO save the child's
life and prevent her from being a Grip
Pile. This man was personal friend.
in truth my best friend. and he said to
me on the night Of the accident. "Do not
underestimate your services" therefore
carefully obtained Information as 20 his
financial assets and found that he was
approximately spending 100000 a year
upon himself and family for pleasure
and that lIo had sS4o.O0O In available
assets. therefore charged for my SER
vices sS2,5Oo. sending with the bill a
letter OF explanation.
The answer to my bin was, This is
Joke" and i have had TO accept what
he was willing to give me The die