A "THREEPENNY DOCTOR"

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 208, 1 March 1912, Page 7

A "THREEPENNY DOCTOR"

BOASTS THAT HIS PRACTICE IS THE BIGGEST ON EARTH. Dr. H. P. Jelley, of High street, Homerton, London, known locally as "the threepenny doctor," figured in two inquests at Hackney recently, and was censured by the jury after he had made some remarkable statements in answer to the coroner.

The first inquiry was on Millicent Mills, aged six, of Overbury street, Claptoß Park. The mother said the child had a cough, and Dr. Jelley treated her for three days. He then said she could get up and play. Some days later, as witness was nursing the child, she "seemed to die." Dr. Jelley was sent for, but did not answer, so Dr. Carnegie was brought, but the child was dead. When she asked Dr. Jelley for a certificate of death, he said, "Go to Dr. Carnegie." A juror: I read the other day that you called yourself a rich man. Dr. Jelley:. That is no reason why I should spend my money on servants to answer threepenny calls. . The ■whole matter is one of sentiment. ,1 act strictly -fli-I like; T obey the law. * But there is a law of humanity.—The law is all-mighty. I have no time to go to such cases. I have had 80,000 patients this year; mine is the biggest practice in the world. You have to remember it is not a question of whether I have to go; it is a question of whether I choose to.

The coroner: You see, this doctor conducts his business in quite a different way to other doctors, and that is why we have scenes at this court. It certainly brings a good deal of discredit on the profession, but we cannot coerce him, and it is simply a matter that those who object should not employ hitn. Dr. Jelloy; With that I cordially agree. The doctor added that he quite agreed that death was due to bronchial pneumonia, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. The second enquiry was on Daniel Greenwood, aged five months, of Clarence road. Dr. Jelley had been attending him for a cold, and the child was taken' worse. An urgent message was sent to the doctor. Dr. Jelley, it was said, replied that he could not attend urgent cases. The child died the same day.

Dr. Jelley said he had been up all the night before, and had 300 patients waiting to see him. A juror: But if you have had such a tremendous business, and cannot attend to all the cases you get, why open another practice at Bow?—I attend everybody to the best of my ability. If they don't want me they need not come. You get your business because you are cheap—My work speaks for itself. My place at Poplar is crammed. Why are all the other surgeries empty? My death rate is a third of that of the London Hospital, with a staff of 1400 people. That is sufficient answer as to my work. A juror: It seems to me you take the threepences and turn them adrift when you are most wanted. Tlio jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes," and added that they wished to censure the doctor. Dr. Jelley: I wish through the medium of the Press to tell the world and Homerton that in future I absolutely refuse to attend urgent cases that interfere with the routine of my business.