DEATH AMONG DOCTORS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4900, 28 June 1887, Page 3

DEATH AMONG DOCTORS.

♦ STARTLING FACTS. Dr E. Paget Thurstan, M.D., a very eminent man, writes to the London Standard : — Sir, — In an able article to-day you refer with acme surprise to the high and increasing mortality in the medical profession. If the general public knew the true facts of the case, I do not think anyone would bo surprised to hear that a doctor was short-lived. It is worry, not work, that kills. The doctor's worries are innumerable and increasing. Moreover, there is no respite. He has hia harness on day and night, Sunday and week days. When he is weary and worn he cannot snatch a holiday except at infinite risk to his practice. The number of young men entering the profeasion yearly is nearly fifty per cent, in excess (I believe) of the deaths and retirements. Some idea of the stress to which competition has reduced doctors may be gathered from the following facts : — (1) There are doctors who thankfully accept one shilling a visit from patients living two miles from their door. Four miles for one shilling ! (2) There are scores of doctors to benefit clubs who receive for their services an annual payment of five shillings, four shillings, and sometimes no more than two ahillinga and sixpence from each member. At six visits per annum per member these doctors receive from tenpence down to tivepence a visit, out of which they have to find medicines. (3) The doctors holding appointments under the Poor Law Guardians receive about the same remuneration — a few pence per visit, including medicine. (4) The niedica officers to Amaluamated Friendly Socie^ ties, Provident Dispensaries, &c., receive about sixpence per visit. (5) There an doctors in London, I am told, who charg( fourpence a visit. (6) Finally, one ir every three in some towns and one k every four in other towns receive medica attendance for nothing, at public hospi tals, <&c. The matrons, nurses, porters dispensers, stewards, chaplains, apothe oary are paid : but the medical and surgica staff are unpaid. No doctor ought to be able to visit raor than four patients per hour even within ; mile radius and not more than two beyoii' that radius on foot. At that rate all th above medical men would receive fror nothing up to about three shillings an fourpenco an hour for their services at th very best, I have estimated that th mean net income of a general practitione is about two hundred pounds a year, an lam told that in one year, in wiiich ai hundred doctors died, about one thoi sand eight hundred medical student were entered to fill their places ! Dot not this throw a gL am of light on the sa figures to whioh you referred ?