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cumstance, that puts it in my power to administer relief to persons, whole indigence forbids them to expect it upon any other terms.
These articles, I presume, will effectually remove the objection which has been most strongly urged, viz. that my method of practice would only suit the wealthy; and will prove that the expence to the patient is not greater, on the plan I have adopted, than in the common method of practice.
It is true that, upon my first arrival, I expressed my desire of being paid for a certain number of visits, at a pistole the first visit, as a retaining fee, and a dollar for every visit afterwards.—It was not my intention to require more than one fee per day, although I might wait on the patient oftner, nor yet every day that I visited once, where a disease of a lingering nature, or requiring particular care, would render my attendance expensive. A retaining fee I expected to receive from the rich, not from the poor; and had firmly resolved in no case to receive more fees, than sufficient to pay me for the value of my time and trouble of attendance. But for want of suitable opportunities of rendering this better known, I daily found that my good intention was in some measure frustrated.
