Evening star., 1937-06-06
The Forgotten Man
of Medicine.
BY FREDERIC J. HASEIN

Will share my substance with him
and I will supply his necessities"
mat Is cardinal portion OF the Hin.
pocratic Oath, the vow taken for cen.
turles by physicians. The oath is fol-
lowed IN spirit, at least, by the most
modern doctor, Just as 1t was observed
when laid down by Hippocrates Of tbs
Island OF Cos more than four centuries
before the birth OF Christ
1t has been observed, however. that
1t IS seldom indeed that laymen. the
benef1ciaries Of the skill OF physicians.
reclprocate In the manner that they do
In respect to other friends, philosophers
and guides
Daily the newspapers publish reports
OF wills filed in which all manner OF
curious bequests are made, but it is
rare thing to find bequest made to a
physician. These wills, aside from the
usual family bequests, leave incomes or
property to churches or to priests, in
their own right, to institutions of learn
Ing, to foundations, to fraternal or other
organizations and to learned societies.
Now and then a wills probate shows
that small fortune has been left for
the maintenance of dogs or cats or to
ASSp 6ACCA t1lC SldSC VI SOlIlc Ocdu
person or animal. Recently a West
Virginia man left money to buy drinks
for his friends in order that they, II
they remembered where he made one,
might turn down an empty glass.
So often bequests to great institutions,
universities and the like are coupled
with conditions A certain sum will be
left to a college for library or
gymnasium, provided the structure be
named after the deceased donor. Not
infrequently institutions find such be-
quests somewhat embarrassing They
may be hardpressed to find enough in
come to pay living salaries to their
stats. Yet, If the bequest is accepted
and the temptation is strong to ac-
cept-an addition to the plant is made
which costs yet more money for up
keep. During the depression. especially.
some such unwanted memorial struc-
lures are said to have gone untenanted
and practically untended because Of
lack OF income. In some cases endow-
ments accompany, so that the item OF
upkeep is met, but that is the excep-
ton. 1t may cost college as much
in year to wash the windows of some
memorial chapel or other building as
would meet the salary of an additional
and much h-needed professor.
So much has been said about the
underlying motive of the donor being
personal vanity rather than a desire to
bring benefits in such cases that the
subject need be mentioned only in con-
trast to illuminate the neglect in such
matters from which physicians suffer.
There probably is scarcely a physician
living who ever has given a thought to
the matter 1t would be contrary to
his professional attitude and way of
thought. His whole genius is bent on
maintenance Of life rather than death,
and so he is far more certain to think
Of things of life than things that may
occur after death-such as bequests.
1t is true, Of course, that vast sums
are left to hospitals and for medical
research. Such bequests usually are
those Of rich testators. Nothing can
detract from the value Of bequests for
the general advancement of the medical
science, but by curious quirk of human
nature the doctor, as a person, as q
living entity with his own personal prob
lens, almost never is remembered at all.
DR.. Hugh Cabot in his book, The
Doctors Bill" presents statistics show
ing that the average annual income Of
physicians in private practice is less
than $4,000 year. But this average
is drawn from the 142,0 doctors in the
country, and it is shown that nearly
one-fourth of them had incomes below
81 600 year. An amazing number Of
practicing physicians, especially In small
towns and rural areas, receive no more
than 1900 year.
Many things must be taken into con-
sideration in reviewing the life and work
of doctor. To begin with, he or some
benefactor must pay substantial sums
of money for an education, more pro-
tracted than that necessary for most
other professions. Costly text books
must be purchased as we'll as other
equipment Then there is almost in
variably long. tedious and often dis
couraging apprenticeship. To become
established in practice, unless it is
inherited or purchased, Is dificult in
the extreme.
But, from the purely human point Of
view ollO WIloAAy noloC AlOul IAlC ICCIl~
nical and professional point of view, the
doctor, especially the old-fashioned
family physician. Is far more than
doctor Of medicine. He becomes family
counselor. He may attend two and
three generations of the same family,
help bring children and grandchildren
into the world safely, and minister to
their safety all his days.
What says the Hippocratic Oath?
The regimen I adopt shall be for
the benefit Of my patients, according
to my ability and judgment and not for
their hurt or for any wrong. What
soever house I enter, there will I 60
for the benefit of the sick. refraining
from all wrongdoing or corruption"
One often hears Of the bedside man.
ners of a physician. referred to in tons
suggesting an attitude thrust upon
patient. More often the bedside man.
ner, the position of conf1dant in all
matters, is solicited by the patient 4
father will draw the doctor aside and
ask his advice concerning a waywarS
son or mother concerning head
strong daughter. Again the Hippocratic
Oath:
whatsoever things I see or hear con-
corning the life Of men, in my attendance
on the sick. or even apart therefrom.
which ought not to be noised abroad.
will keep silence thereon, counting
such things to be as sacred secrets"