Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1881 — The Doctor’s Liability. [ARTICLE]

The Doctor’s Liability.

Ollmr E. Lyman in Popular Science Monthly. It is related as a legend of the medical fraternity, that the Emperor Augustus was once so highly pleased at a cure effected in himself by his doctor, Antonius Musa, that lie raised that gentleman to the rank of knight, and relieved the whole profession from the burden of taxation. Probably at no time before or since that event has the lot of the physician been such a happy one. In the earlier days of Rome the practice of medicine was- despised and confined to the humbler ranks of society and to slaves. Not until the influence of Grecian civilization made itself felt in the Roman capital did the physicians gain honor or standing. In the .middle ages the calling suffered a relapse, to speak medically. Surgery was in ill-repute, and Sprengel tells us that in Germany no artisan would employ a young man as an apprentice without u certificate that he was born in marriage of honest parents, and came of a family in which were found neither barbers, bathers nor “skinners,” as surgeons were called.

Exen at the present day, although the meritorious claims of the medical and surgical practitioner have l>een recognized and an honorable social status awarded him, his mind is not -at rest. The advancement and refinement of ideas have begotten deeper anxieties and a feeling of responsibility. So jealously does the law guard the lives and persons of the people that every time the physieian writes a prescription, or the surgeon makes an incision he takes his purse, his liberty, or perhaps his life in his hand. The risk is not all on the part of the patient, despite a popular impression that the only pocket-book likely to be depleted or the only life liable to be sacrificed is that of the sick man.

A remarkable example of honesty which did nr t meet its just reward has lust occurred in New Orleans. Arcine Alton, the son of a sailor, who u seldom at hbme, is a telegraph messenger in that city. He is barely 13 years old, but unusually quick and well-informed fur i.is age. Some days since, while hurrying through one of the principal business streets, he stumbled across a package, whieh he opened and found to contain negotiable bonds having a market value of fourteen thousand dollars. The boy was fully aware of the value of bis find, but without a moment’s hesitation he called to a gentleman who was passing and asked him what he should do with the bonds. For some unexplained reason this gentleman believed them to be the property of Messrs. Labatt & Son, well-known lawyers, and sent the boy with them to their address. The faithful

little messenger carried them as directed, and found that Mr. L&batt, 8r , was not in. He was received by the junior partner, however, who took the bonds, believing that they had been dropped by hislather, and kindly rave the boy the magnificent sum of fifty cents,. The next day, however, it turned out that the bonds were the property, not of Labatl, but of a wealthy old gentleman named Jackson. The latter advertised his loss and offered to pay a large reward for the recovery of his property. A detective, who had been made aware of the manner in which the bonds had been brought to Mr. Labatt, secured them, and bringing them to Mr. Jackson, demanded SI,OOO for his services. After some discussion he was paid S7OO and gave up the securities. Meanwhile, the real finder of the bonds, the honest messenger boy, has to content hi mself with the fifty cents given him by the lawyer. His mother, however, who seems to be a woman whoaknows what she is about, proposes to sue Mr, Jackson and. the detective for at least a portion of the reward. Dispatches from South Africa states that the Boers and natives have begunhostilities on the western border of Transvaal.