“Just thirty minutes’ ride on the Lincoln branch, doctor,” replies Jennings. “Why can’t you run out with me this afternoon? No time like the present, you know.” “The trouble is that I will be busy until 4 p.m., and then it will be too late.” “Not at all. There’s a train at 4:30 and we can be at Smith’s home by 5. Better go. Barring his ailment you’ll find Smith a good host. He’s rich and has a fine home, and the best of everything. I know he’ll be glad to pay liberally for your opinion whether it is favorable or unfavorable.” “Well, doctor, if you think there is no doubt of my being able to get back so as to take the 10:30 train for Chicago I guess I’ll have to go with you. Really I should not do it as I have a hard day’s work ahead of me, but you have aroused my interest in the case and I would like to see the patient. I’ll meet you at the depot at train time. Until then good bye. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate your call. If conditions were different I would insist on your being my guest for the day, but, as you well know we medical men are not our own masters.” Without appearing to hurry he gets rid of Dr. Jennings before it is time to receive the next caller and, by exercising a little tact, the various people with whom he has made engagements are kept from meeting one another. Out of the four appointments he has made with laymen the doctor will ordinarily obtain fees from at 85least two, if not all four of his callers. Just how he does it will be explained in another chapter. At 4:15 Dr. Wilkinson is at the depot where he finds Dr. Jennings waiting. On the train, the specialist delicately brings up the matter of fees. “One great trouble with a treatment of this kind is the expense. The fees must necessarily be large and it is difficult to get even wealthy men to pay them. It is a relief to be able to discuss this part of the subject candidly with a brother physician like yourself who has the brain and common sense to appreciate it.” Once again Dr. Jennings is pleased at the confidence reposed in him, and the more so when Dr. Wilkinson continues: “Of course in a case like this where the local physician interests himself, takes his time to visit a patient with the specialist, gives the latter the benefit of his knowledge of the case, and continues the treatment after the specialist has gone, there should be a division of the fee. The local physician cannot be expected to donate his services; that would be ridiculously unfair.” The country doctor is more interested than ever. Should he be super-sensitive about acceptance of a fee, and inclined to question the ethics of the arrangement he is quieted with the assurance that it is in common practice all over the country. In most cases, however, there is no tendency of this kind. The local practitioner is ready, and anxious to get his share of the money. His main concern is about the amount. Frequently he asks: “What do you think we can get doctor?”