The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-02-05
FOLKS LIKE THEIR DOCTORS POOR BUT HONEST AND
 VERY coon TOO

So many letters ask me to recom- mend doctor who knows his busi- ness, who will give thorough and complete examination, advise the patient frankly and honestly, and then let the patient off for a '.rea- sonable" fee.
 It's tough joJ.
 You see, doctor generally begins poor, for he is probably heavily in debt by the time he gets out of medical school and through with his hospital interneship. We doctors were poor enough away back in my day, when they kept us dawdling around medical school only four short years and another year or two playing the part of "Yes, sir" to some big scalpel and stethoscope man on the hospital staff. It took me ten years to get out of debt after I began practice, and even then I was out for only ftful spells, and as soon as we had healthy season or a mild winter I fell right back into debt again. To tell the truth I never could get one dollar on top of another as long as remained an honest doctor. After fifteen years of it snapped out of it, began working a few tricks on 'em, and then was able to sleep nights when the baby business wasn't too brisk. I'm down. right sorry for the young man who has the temerity to study medicine and break into practic, today He gets pretty nasty deal from every side. First the state plays him the meanest kind of trick by making him prove his qualifications and soaking him a fancy license fee for it and then turning right around and admitting to practice all sorts of ignoramuseS, humbugS and crooks who have no preliminary education, less scientific education and all the moral character and responsibility of unjailed criminals.
 As a rule can recommend reputable physician or specialist in almost any town. Now and then I may pick bad egg, an egg that has spoiled since we last took medical census. But generally the doctor I name for correspondent is reput- able, and hence presumably honest. Of course. a doctor may retain his professional standing. that is, his membership or fellowship in the official medical society or faculty and the respect of his colleagues, yet be a man without morals. You have to take your chances about that You do take such chances every time you encounter or deal with a stranger the first time.
 But I draw the line on picking cheap ones for our-oh, well, won't call 'em Scotchmen or Connecticut Yankees, but just our very econom- ical readers. You must take your chances in regard to that, too. If the doctor or specialist really is reputable, then he will not charge anybody an unreasonable or exor- bitant fee.
 I draw not only a line, but lot of lines all over the place, about telling bargain hunters where they can find a doctor who will give this or that treatment for less than the fee some too amiable doctor has named for the job. Such folk are just running around to save funeral expenses. If they can get away with it fine and dandy. for funerals cer- tainly set you back something these hifalutin' days. But my business is to help people keep well, and if they fail to keep well, then to help 'em get well, and I don't think they can get we'll so cheaply as all that.
 Goats Milk
 Have heard goats milk is very good of the kidneys. especially dur ing pregnancy as it alkalizes the system. Mrs. w. H.