HOW A DOCTOR'S BILL IS RUN DP.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1826, 27 April 1888, Page 3

HOW A DOCTOR'S BILL IS RUN DP.

In the Queen c Bench Division, before Mr Justice Stephen aud a special jary, the case of Combe v Hanson and another came on for hearing recently. It was an action brought by a surgeon practising at Twyford, Berks, against Sir Reginald Hanson, ex-Lord Mayor of London, and Lieutenant- Colonel Broadhnrat, to recover a Bora of £100, the balauoe of an accoant of 200 guinea? rendered to the defendants by the plaintiff for surgical attendance, board acd lodging, etc , to Colo joI Broadhurat m 1886, when that gentleman v»a3 laid np by a carriage accident. Sir Reginald Hanson was sued as having engaged to be responsible for all payments and Colonel Broadhnret was subsequently joined In tha defence. The defokdinta resisted the olaltn on the grounn that, as they alleged the charges were excessive ; and the; a was also a question as to the application of the Statuto of Frauda m the absence of writing signed by the Guarantor. Mr Finlay, Q O t , for the plaintiff, said Colonel Broadhnrst was a gueat of Sir R Hanson when the accident hap pened. The plalatiff was called to his assistance, and he wa3 taken to the plaintiff's house where it was arranged that he ahonld beard and lodge nntll he was fr. to be removed. He remained there for eight weeks. Sir Reginald Hanson had asked the plaintiff to do everything that was necessary, as he would not for the world that anything should happen to the Colonel, who was his guest and a very old and particular friend, acd said he would be r.Bponsible for all payments. The account was made up for board and lodging for the eight weeks for the Colonel, his wife, and a professional nurse, 20 guineas for a vitit to the Colonel at Brighton, £5 guineas for a second visit to Brighton, and £89 for general profe?Bionnl attendance, etc. The plaintiff gave evidence bearing out generally his couDHel's statement. Cross-examined by Mr LockWGod ; The plaintiff said his charges would vary according to tbe class of patient and the distance he would have to travel m his visits. Colonel Broadhurst was. suffering from comminuted fracture of the thigh. Here your patient was m your own house, and I see you have several visits m a day charged at half a guinea each. I suppose you would just look iv and say, " Well, Colonel, how are you getting on V aDd then put down for that half a guinea ? (Laughter.)— Ob, no; it was more than that. And some visits are charged at two guineas ? — When I was called out of my sleep. One day I see you have ' ' Visit, visit, visit," one after another. Why you seem to have been m and out like a rabbit (Laughter,) — The visits were all neceseavy. It seems to have been a busy day that? — Yes; and I earned it too, I suppose when you had noth'ng else to do you walked upsraira and then put down half a gainea 1 (Laughter.) —Nothing of the eort ; these vlalta were actually necessary m the cqnditlon of the patient. I Bee a charge for putting on Bp'.intj— two fijuineas. Then '■ Visit," « Visit," "Visit." (Laughter.) -I waa called oat of bed, and charged two guineßß You did not charge any mileage m that case? (Laughter) — No; I charged for advice. A nuuber of medical and other witnesses were called and they expressed their opinion that the oharges m the account were perfectly fair and reasonable m the circumstances, some saying they might have charged less m certain particulars, and more m others The charges for long distances were generally stated to bo from 7s 6d to 10a per mile. Some conversation ensued between counsel and the learned Judge aa to the application of the Statute of Frauds to the case, and his Lordship was of opinion that the statute would not app'y, Sir Reginald Hanson not being sued as a guarantor. The two defendants gave evidence, and medical witnesses called on their behalf

expressed the opinion that some of the visits which the plaintiff hud chargefl for were not neceasiry, Oouusol having been heard, the Court adjournad.