After a few moments chat the “steerer” leaves, satisfied that the doctor has given him the agreed-upon commission. If, on the other hand, he finds that the doctor has “held out” on him he hunts him up and remonstrates. Should this be of no avail the “steerer” severs business relations with that particular specialist, and makes a compact with one of his competitors. Good “steerers” are always in demand and the doctor who picks up an artist in this line is pretty sure to use him well so as to make sure of retaining him. It is not every day that the steerer can pick up a patient that will net him $250. Sometimes his “bit” will not be more than $12.50 or $25, but it is safe to say that a smooth man who thoroughly understands the business can easily average $150 a week. He takes life easy, dresses well, and lives on the fat of the land. Few patients after paying a big fee to the doctor feel like staying at an expensive hotel for any length of time. Besides this the doctor generally manipulates matters so 203that the patient finds it to his interest to board at some place recommended by the physician. This clears the road for the steerer at the hotels and leaves him free to operate among them without fear of running into any of his victims. In a city where there are a number of large hotels it is an easy matter for the steerer to so regulate his movements as to avoid suspicion by being seen around any one house too often or continuously. There are women “steerers” also, but they work in a much different manner from the men. In nearly every community there are women of business instinct who are not averse to earning some “easy” money. One of these women will make an arrangement with Dr. Sweatem by which she is to receive a commission on all the patients she may send him. Her commission is not so large as that given the men steerers because she does not work among strangers, or personally take such patients as she may secure to the doctor’s office. Still it is a handsome sum—generally 10 or 15 per cent of the fee—enough to give an active, influential woman a very respectable income. The woman “steerer” makes it her business to join various clubs and churches, take part in all women movements, and to get acquainted with as many of her sex as possible. She especially cultivates the acquaintance of well-to-do women who are real sufferers, or imagine themselves to be afflicted in some manner. She encourages them to talk about their physical troubles, is kindly sympathetic, and, at the proper moment makes delicate suggestion that it would be well for the sufferer to see Dr. Sweatem. 204“He’s such a grand man. Seems to know just what to do, and has been so successful in treating a lot of my friends. I wouldn’t think of going to anyone but him myself.”