McKinley’s Doctors Want an Appropriation

THAT the conceit and cupidity of the medical profession is not yet on the wane is evident from the behavior of the doctors who attended President McKinley during his last days. They are debating whether they should present bills of service or not. Said Dr. Mann to a reporter recently: “I think an appropriation by Congress would be the most satisfactory to us. Any sum Congress decides upon, no matter what it is, will be satisfactory to all the Buffalo physicians. If this were done, it would obviate the rather delicate matter, in this case, of submitting bills which may become the subject of criticism, no matter what the size may be.”
     “You see,” interrupted Dr. Mynter, who was present, “if we submit small bills, there are many physicians who would declare that we were foolish and establishing a bad precedent, to put it mildly. If we submit large bills, the people of the country will criticise us. Congress should make an appropriation. Looking at the case from a purely business viewpoint and eliminating all sentiment, it must be apparent that the fact that the President was kept alive for more than a week prevented a financial panic in this country. That alone is worth considering.”
     These extracts speak for themselves. In the case of Garfield’s physicians, Congress made an appropriation of $100,000. No wonder these doctors are anxious to have Congress pay them! Senator Hanna has offered to pay; but no—Congress alone is sufficient. With ordinary care, President McKinley would have lived a few days, at any rate, and so no financial panic was averted by these men. Business interests stagnated for a little, it is true; but President Roosevelt’s firm stand for the continuation of the McKinley policy did more to re-establish financial confidence than anything that the doctors did. But, of course, they make this a pretext; they must have the money, and what else could they do? Well, I suppose Congress will make them an appropriation as great public benefactors, and they will chuckle with delight at the rich haul they have made, while hundreds and thousands throughout the country will still swallow the filthy drugs of these doctors, through ignorance. Will the day ever come when all this cupidity and charlatanry will be known and treated as it ought?