TRICKING A FAMOUS SURGEON.

Bush Advocate, Volume XXI, Issue 298, 21 June 1909, Page 7

TRICKING A FAMOUS SURGEON.

Sir Morel Mackenzie once received a telegram from Antwerp inquiring as to his charges for a certain operation. He replied £500, and was told to come at once. When ho stopped upon the dock ho was met by three men in mourning, who inform :.! him sadly that ho had come too late ; l)io patient had died that morn;.:;j. "But," said the spokosnum < c tlio. party, "we know that you did what you could, and we do not intend that you shall be out of pocket a shilling. We shall pay you your full fee." And they did. "And now," said the man, "since you are here, what do you say to visiting, the city hospital and giving a clinic for the benefit of our local surgeons? It is not very often they have an opport unity of benefiting by such, science as yours." Sir Morel said. that he would gladly comply. He went to the liospital and . performed many operations, among which were two of a- similar nature to that for which he had been called for. When he had finished all thanked him profusely. On the steamer going home ho met a friend, ■vvlio had n. Iviisiness lions© in Antwerp .- "Pretty scurvy trick they played on you, Sir Morel." "What do- you. mean?" asked the surgeon. ' "Told you this patient died before you arrived, di'dh't they?" "Yes." 1 ■ ■ , "Lies. You operated on him. and' a friend, with the same trouble at the clinic. Got two operations for one price."