And in another case where information of the fact of the employment had been conveyed to the company’s general manager, and he had neglected and omitted to repudiate the employment or to terminate it, and the surgeon went on and performed services, it was held that from these facts a ratification will be inferred. Indianapolis R. R. Co. _v._ Morris, _supra_. See also Toledo, etc., R. R. Co. _v._ Rodrigues, _supra_; Same _v._ Prince, _supra_; Terre Haute, etc., R. R. Co. _v._ Stockwell, 118 Ind., 98. _Presentation and Retention of Doctor’s Bill Raises No Presumption of Liability._—The presentation of a bill to a person containing charges against him for services rendered another person, and his retention of that bill without disclaimer of liability, does not raise a presumption of liability, for it is not necessarily an account stated. To constitute an account stated, there must be not only a statement of account, but acquiescence in it; mere retention of the account is not sufficient. _Bills Presented Not Conclusive as to Amounts Charged._—On the other hand, if a bill is presented which contains charges which are not acquiesced in, the person making out and presenting the bill is not absolutely bound by the charges therein contained, although such a bill affords some evidence as to the value of the services rendered.[170] _Claims Against Estates of Deceased Persons._—A bill for a physician’s services constitutes a claim against the estate of a deceased person, like any other debt. In some States it is a preferred claim.[171] In this connection it should be observed that short statutes of limitation exist in most countries and States applicable to such cases, shorter than the ordinary limitation imposed by law upon the right to sue upon claims for services rendered (which is six years). In order to preserve his legal rights, the physician should as soon as possible after the death of the person for whom his services have been rendered, ascertain who is the administrator or executor of the estate of such person, and file with such representative, personally, proof of his claim. _Patient who Receives Benefit of Services of Consulting Physician Liable._—The liability of a patient for the services of a consulting physician is generally governed by the same rules as his liability to the physician in immediate charge of the case.[172] Where the patient accepts the services of a consulting physician, although he has not directly requested them, he must pay for them if he receives the benefit of them without objecting, because it will be presumed that he ratified the act of the physician who was in charge of the case, in calling the other physician into consultation.[173]