Life, 1913-09-11 · page 40 of 44
Life — September 11, 1913 — page 40: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This satirical exchange of letters (Feb. 9-17, 1913) mocks both medical billing practices and socialist ideology. A wealthy patient, Montmorency Scapps, disputes surgeon Dr. Jamison Cutter's $3,000 appendectomy bill. Cutter defends the inflated fee by explaining that reputable surgeons charge "according to the financial standing of the patients"—not work performed. He justifies this by claiming surgeons do unpaid charity work for the poor. Scapps brilliantly counters by invoking Marx's communist principle "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need." Since Cutter is wealthy (per financial records), Scapps argues Cutter doesn't *need* the money. The joke: applying socialist redistribution logic to the surgeon himself exposes the hypocrisy of selective charity. The satire targets both medical profession greed and the absurdity of applying communist theory to capitalist America.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
SUAIRAES Woman’s Looks A woman’s looks count for so much more than a man’s in the sum of life, that she owes it to herself to do all that she rea- sonably can to preserve, and if possible enhance, whatever grace and charm of persan nature may have endowed her with. To this end— Pears’ Soap the purest and best. toilet soap ever manufactured contributes in an eminent degree. Its dainty emol- lient action softens and refines the skip and keeps it in a healthy condition. It is Matchless for the Complexion =—=TITTI Tit: === 9 PO The Great English Complexion Soap According to His Need New York, Feb. 9, 1913. EAR SIR: Herewith I beg to inclose my bill for $3,000 for your operation, 1 trust you have continued to gain strength since your discharge from the hospital. Yours sincerely, Jamison Cutter. To Montoren Coupon Boulevard. seeee New York, Feb. 11, 1913. Dear Dr. Cutter: I am in receipt of your bill for my operation and I must say that I think it is altogether too high. I have made some inquiries among my friends and I learn that $300 is a high average price for appendicitis operations. Would you mind letting me know your views in the matter? Yours very truly, MontMorency Scapps. To Dr. Jamison Cutter, Slaughter Hospital. oe . New York, Feb. 14, 1913. Dear Mr. Scanps: I beg to acknowledge receipt of yours of the eleventh inst. It is quite evident that you are unaware of the practice among the better class of reputable surgeond of charging, not according’ to the work performed, but according to the financial standing of the patients. In view of the unques- tioned eminence of your position in the financial world, I feel that the fee I fixed 1s rather too low than too high. The average fee for appen- dectomies may be even less than $500 as you suggest, but don’t you sce that we have to make up in some way for the vast amount of work we do for the poor and needy in return for but slight compensation? Yours sincerely, Jamison Cutter. To Moxtmorency Scapps, Esg., Coupon Boulevard. seeee New York, Feb. 17, 1913. Dear Dr. Cuter: Please accept my thanks for your courteous explanation of the fee- fixing modus operandi. I cannot quarrel with you over the justice of the theot “from each according to his ability. You must remember, however, that the corollary of the theory, “from cach according to his ability” is “to each according to his need.” With that corollary in mind, I have looked you up in Bradstreet’s and find that you are rolling in wealth and therefore do not need money. As It May Be Your Turn Next! rely FIRE EXTINGUISHER iT, “THE VITAL 5 MINUTES” 'HE fear of fire exists in every human being. Too often it is in the background until a tongue of flame stealthily creeps in among our loved ones, and taking us unawares, leaves a blackened scar which may take years or eternity to heal. Have you taken proper precaution to protect your home from this danger? It may be your turn next. The Pyrene Fire Extinguisher is a handy, depend- able weapon, strongly built of solid brass,handsomely finished. Pyrene puts science and readiness between your dearest possessions and possible dis- aster. Price, $7, £0. b. nearest shipping poine ickel-plated Pyrene Fire proved F: ppliances issued by the ai ii sof Ap- National Board of Fire Underwriters. Write for Booklet PYRENE MANUFACTURING CO. 1358 Broadway, New York City Pacific Cosst Distributors: GORMAM ENGINEERING CO. Sas Praseiece Leg Anguiea Seattle you can readily see that I must weigh each request carefully. It seems to me that, under the circumstances, $50 would be a fair award in your case, and this I beg to send you herewith. You can rest assured that the balance of $2,950 will be carefully distributed among the deserving in order to do the most possible good. Yours very truly, MontMorency Scapps. I have a great many demands upon y ds u To Dr. Jamison Cutter, me for philanthropic contributions, Slaughter Hospital. e@aAe books. oL__. SST (C