CHEATING THE DOCTOR.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1099, 1 May 1883, Page 3

CHEATING THE DOCTOR.

A celebrated physician in Vienna one day received a telegram from Cracow requesting him to repair thither with all haete, as Moses Abrahamson was very ill and required advice. This Moses was known to be one of the richest men of his tribe. The doctor, who has an enormous practice and was very busy at the time, wired back : ' My fee will be 2,000 florins.' A second dispatch urged him to come without delay, but added that he might surely do it for less. ' Not a kreutzer less than 2,080 florins,' was the reply from Vienna ; whereupon a final telegram came to hand directing the physician to start at once. It was in the depth of winter and bitterly cold, so that our medical man was anything but pleased at the prospect of the long journey. Bat what was his disgust on being met at the Cracow railway station by a deputation of the Ions: coated Polish Jews bringing the tidings that be came too late, as Moses Abrahamson had died a few hours before, As there was no train back to Vienna that day he was perforce compelled to put up for a night at an hotel. Meanwhiie the news of the great doctor's arrival had spread through the town, and sicfc people of every description, both Jews and Christians, besieged the door. So many afflicted persons touched his compassionate heart, and he freely gave them the advice tbey needed, Whan, at last, he got to the station, and wao about to step into the carriage, a Polish Jew came sliding up to him with a knowing smile on his face, whispered in his ear : •'I say, Doctor, I only wanted to tell you that Moses Abrahamson isn't dead; not a bit of it ; he was among those patients whom you cured for nothing.' —Daheim Kaleuder.'