DOCTORS’ INCOMES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2093, 30 May 1907, Page 3

DOCTORS’ INCOMES.

Doctors aro the repositories -of secrets sad or glad, and sometimes comic, says a writer in Chambers’ Journal.

Sir John It. Itobinson has related the story of a bountiful vorso in tho home of a doctor. It was given to him by a grateful young lady who came one day and said sho had a secret. She was about to bo married, and married to tho .only man she loved; but unfortunately, when a foolish girl sho had flirted with a young cousin, and had tatooed his name, “Johnny,” on- her arm. Tho doctor asked if the bridegroom’s name was Tommy, as, if so, there would bo less trouble in making an alteration. His name was quite different, so tho tattoo-marks wore redone with milk, although an ugly scar remained. Dr. Caesar Hawkins, when in company with .Robert Lee, who had kicked a bit of orango pool from tho pavement to the roadway, roplacod it, with tho words, “\Vhat are you thinking about?” Was this a. joke, or was ho in earnest? Wo are told that doctors in the East End of London will visit and provide medicine for a shilling; others give advice and medicine at u dispensary for sixpence. Contractwork is even worse paid. It soeniß that tens of thousands of families in Groat Britain, by tho contract system .which prevails in working-class or manufacturing districts, .receive medical attendance and advice for threepence a week. Medicine and dressings are even provided. A grey-haired, worn-looking’prac-titioner, .clevor, and only thirty-five, once said that he could retire had all debts been paid by former and present patients. Every doctor has to thing a grout deal about his fees, his expenses are so groat. Very rarely does a medical man become rich. Mr. Lawson Tait sets down the average income of medical men in England at two hundred pounds a year. None of the research work done in hospital is paid for, and very little of the hard work. Doctors appear to be debarred by etiquette from suing pa tients for their bills

There are some plums going, however. Thomas Dimsdale (1712-1800) was invited to St. Petersburg by the Empress Catherine to inoculate herself and the Grand Duke Paul. The visit was successful, and he received as fee ten thousand pounds down, with an annuity of five hundred pounds, and two thousand pounds for expenses.

Professor Cheroot, a French specialist on nervous diseases, had two thousand pounds from Dom Pedro of Brazil for a single consultation. Dr. Playfair received two thousand four hundred pounds for attendance upon the Crown Princess of Rou-

mania on the birth of Prince Charles. The Tsar is said to have paid teji thousand pounds to the chief doctor who; was present at the birth of a' Tsarevitch. *