There is no plea here for Dr. Wilkinson’s special treatment; no solicitation to become a patient of this particular establishment. Mr. Robinson is still further impressed with the doctor’s fairness, and also his professional ability as the diagnosis was the same as that made 127by other physicians. He does not know that he has told the doctor of the opinions and findings of the others, and is therefore all the more strongly inclined to look upon Dr. Wilkinson as a most remarkable man, a veritable past master in the profession. “Well, I’d like to take this treatment Doctor, if it doesn’t cost too much, but I am unable to get away from my business just now. I must run back home for a couple of weeks and put my affairs in shape so I can stay here for a while. How long do you think it will take?” “That’s something I am unable to state definitely. In some instances, apparently fully as bad, if not worse, than yours, the desired results have been obtained in three months; in others these results have been delayed for six and nine months, and in a few cases even longer.” “What will it cost me, Doctor?” (This subject—fixing the fee—is treated at length in another chapter—IX.) There are some specialists who lack tact is ascertaining a caller’s financial responsibility, or in gaining his confidence. Their work is so coarse that it repels instead of attracts. These men rarely, if ever, obtain any considerable number of patients among well-to-do or intelligent people. Their practice is invariably cheap, and $50 fees are few and far between. One specialist of this description opened an office in Chicago. He was a good physician and his ability had been recognized by his appointment to important professorships in various medical colleges and hospitals. He failed as a specialist because he lacked tact. If Mr. Robinson had called upon him he would have 128been brusquely received in a cheaply furnished one-room office, and the money feature would have been uppermost in the doctor’s talk. Instead of getting the caller interested in the treatment, by means of a courteous reception, and strict attention to an examination for which no charge was made, the itch for money would have been so apparent that Mr. Robinson could not help but notice it. Following is an almost verbatim report of the manner in which a caller was received in the office of this physician. After a short discussion of the case and before an examination was made, or even suggested, the caller asked: “Do you think you can cure me, Doctor?” “I don’t think, I know,” was the surprising answer. “There’s no question about it. In three months you’ll be as sound and well as you ever were.”