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MEDICAL FEES AT ASSURANCE OFFICES.
674 DELAY OF PROMISED MEDICAL WORKS.
Sir,,-In
To the Editor of THE LANCET. addition to the works enumerated
by your
corre-
spondent, "A Constant Reader," as being delayed in publicaI would mention the second edition of Graham’s tion, " Chemistry." The first number appeared in Nov. 1846; the second, a few months since, (I forget exactly when;) and I have inquired in vain for the third, although the whole work is promised by October next.-I am, Sir, yours, &c., G. H. T.
___________
MEDICAL FEES AT ASSURANCE OFFICES. the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.)
(Communicated by
1. The information is of the utmost importance to the inteof such societies. 2. The usual medical attendant can generally afford such as cannot be obtained from any other source. 3. "As communications of this nature are considered to be strictly confidential," the transaction is, in my opinion, entirely and exclusively between the society and the medical man to whom application is made. I have received from you a similar certificate for Mr. John Hendley, which, for the reasons stated as referring to Mr. Dallison, I must also decline filling up till I receive a fee to the same amount as you are in the habit of paying to your regularly-appointed medical referee. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, Theodore Compton, Esq. JOHN JONES.
rests
information
_____
To the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal. SIR,—I beg to forward to you the accompanying copy of a correspondence between the Secretary of the Temperance Provident Institution, 39, Moorgate-street, London, and myself, and likewise a copy of an agreement entered into some years ago by the medical men of this town. I am inclined to think, that if a similar agreement were adopted and adhered to by the profession generally, we should not so frequently have to complain of being placed by assurance societies in collision with our patients, and thit, too, without receiving any remuneration for the valuable information which they obtain from us.
Copy of Agreement. being a common practice for agents of life insurance companies to apply for information respecting the health of the applicant for insurance to his usual medical attendant, and in so doing present a formula of queries to be filled up by him, with an assurance, that if an untavourable report should be made, the applicant shall not be acquainted with the It
source
from whence the company have derived their infor-
mation, thus constituting the transaction
a
private
one
between the company and the medical man; and as in many instances the company refuse to give a compensating fee for information thus obtained, we, the undersigned medical practitioners of Derby, agree, for the future, never to respond to Temperance Provident Institution, 39, Moorgate -street, London. such applications, without receiving from the company’s SIR,—A proposal having been made to this Institution for agents the same remunerating fee as is given to their reguthe admission of Mr. Gilbert Dallison as a member, and larly-appointed medical referee :reference having been made to you for information respecting W. E. Forrester, M.D.; Thomas Bent, M.D.; Wm. his present and general state of health, I have to request on Baker, M.D.; James Heygate, M.D.; Douglas Fox, surhis behalf that you will favour the directors with answers to geon ; Wm. Bennet, surgeon; Edward Charles Rudkin, the enclosed queries. [Sixteen queries.] Permit me to add, surgeon; John Wright, surgeon; John Hill, surgeon; S. that it is important to the party himself that every question W. Fearn, surgeon; Charles Borough, surgeon; John should be answered in as full and correct a manner as possible. Lindley, surgeon; John Johnson, surgeon; J. Whitaker As communications of this nature areconsidered to be Johnson, surgeon; John Jones, surgeon; Augustus G. strictly confidential, and a reason for rejection is never Greaves, surgeon; Henry F. Gisborne, surgeon; Robert assigned, a perfect reliance may be felt, that should the tenHamilton, surgeon; John Webster, surgeon; Thos. Hardency of your answers be such as to induce the directors not wood, surgeon; Allen Borman, surgeon; Thomas Buxton, to accept the proposed candidate, the purport of them will surgeon; Edward Hoskins, surgeon; Joseph Butler, surnever be suffered to transpire, or to become in any way the geon ; Wm. Moore Wooler, surgeon. subject of observation. If with me in thinking that the publication of the I have further to solicit that you will have the kindness to aboveyou agree be useful, I shall feel obliged by its insertion in might return the accompanying certificate, addressed as above, at the Provi7icictl Journal; and perhaps you will not think it too your earliest convenience.-I am, &c. much trouble to cause it to be forwarded for insertion also in THEODORE COMPTON, Secretary. May 23rd, 1849. THE LANCET.—I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, JOHN JONES. Derby, June 5th, 1848. Derby, May 24th, 1848. EMIGRATION AND ARRANGEMENTS IN SIR,—Ihave just, received the form of certificate of health, which you request me to fill up for Mr. Gilbert Dallison. EMIGRANT SHIPS. In consequence of the frequent applications made to medical To the Editor of THE LANCET. men, by life assurance societies, for information respecting the health of persons desirous of having their lives insured, SIR,—In the number of your valuablejournal for May 20this the medical men of this town have entered into an agreement a letter, addressed to Lord John Russell, upon this important that they will not answer the list of queries sent to them on subject. It is quite clear that the writer has not seen the such occasions unless they are accompanied with the fee excellent regulations issued by the Government,—excellent ! whether as regards the small amount required from each usually given to the appointed referee of such societies. as a security for good conduct on board, and as an Waiting your reply, I remain, Sir, &c., ’ emigrant of JOHN JONES. JONES. evidence industry and frugality, (for the idle and dissolute Theodore Compton, Esq. JOHN can seldom muster the money,) or as regards the extreme care and precaution displayed in every matter relating to the London, May 25th, 1848. SIR,—In reply to your letter, I beg to state that we require health of the voyagers. Mr. Butler could never have written every person to give us satisfactory evidence of his health; the following passage had he been aware of these things :" The serious drawback to the present very limited plan of I can therefore only refer you to your patient, if you will not give your answers without a fee. Should we require any Government colonization is the uncomfortable and unhealthy provided in the small hired vessels, which .Special advice, or any examination, we shall be quite ready to accommodation induces to demand for we cannot think tenable but many object going out in them." merely your pay you, I enclose one of the printed regulations, in the hope you giving such information as you have at hand. will print a part of it for the information of the public. It I am, Sir, your obedient servant, will be seen that medical science and the medical profession THEODORE COMPTON. J. Jones, Esq. are appreciated by the Government, as every emigrant-ship is placed exclusively under the care of a medical man, not Derby, May 27th, 1848. I have accordance to to only as the doctor, but as SOLE SUPERINTENDENT during the your suggestion, SIR,—In applied Mr. Dallison for a fee before I answer the queries contained voyage, independently of which a number of medical men in the form of certificate of his health forwarded by you to have been appointed paid agents at home to examine and me, which lie declines paying; I am therefore under the report to the commissioners upon applicants, previous to necessity of refusing to fill up the certificate as requested. In their joining the ship. I have the honour to be, Sir, yours respectfully, doing so, I beg to state that I consider assurance societies June, 1848. AN EMIGRATION AGENT, L.A.C. & M.R.C.S. Lond. ought not to object to pay the remunerating fee to the medical attendant of the applicant for assurance, to whom they apply P.S.—Ihave in my possession a letter of thanks from two for information, for the following reasons :single men and two single women, who sailed some months ____
’
Sir,,-In
To the Editor of THE LANCET. addition to the works enumerated
by your
corre-
spondent, "A Constant Reader," as being delayed in publicaI would mention the second edition of Graham’s tion, " Chemistry." The first number appeared in Nov. 1846; the second, a few months since, (I forget exactly when;) and I have inquired in vain for the third, although the whole work is promised by October next.-I am, Sir, yours, &c., G. H. T.
___________
MEDICAL FEES AT ASSURANCE OFFICES. the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal.)
(Communicated by
1. The information is of the utmost importance to the inteof such societies. 2. The usual medical attendant can generally afford such as cannot be obtained from any other source. 3. "As communications of this nature are considered to be strictly confidential," the transaction is, in my opinion, entirely and exclusively between the society and the medical man to whom application is made. I have received from you a similar certificate for Mr. John Hendley, which, for the reasons stated as referring to Mr. Dallison, I must also decline filling up till I receive a fee to the same amount as you are in the habit of paying to your regularly-appointed medical referee. I am, Sir, your most obedient servant, Theodore Compton, Esq. JOHN JONES.
rests
information
_____
To the Editor of the Provincial Medical and Surgical Journal. SIR,—I beg to forward to you the accompanying copy of a correspondence between the Secretary of the Temperance Provident Institution, 39, Moorgate-street, London, and myself, and likewise a copy of an agreement entered into some years ago by the medical men of this town. I am inclined to think, that if a similar agreement were adopted and adhered to by the profession generally, we should not so frequently have to complain of being placed by assurance societies in collision with our patients, and thit, too, without receiving any remuneration for the valuable information which they obtain from us.
Copy of Agreement. being a common practice for agents of life insurance companies to apply for information respecting the health of the applicant for insurance to his usual medical attendant, and in so doing present a formula of queries to be filled up by him, with an assurance, that if an untavourable report should be made, the applicant shall not be acquainted with the It
source
from whence the company have derived their infor-
mation, thus constituting the transaction
a
private
one
between the company and the medical man; and as in many instances the company refuse to give a compensating fee for information thus obtained, we, the undersigned medical practitioners of Derby, agree, for the future, never to respond to Temperance Provident Institution, 39, Moorgate -street, London. such applications, without receiving from the company’s SIR,—A proposal having been made to this Institution for agents the same remunerating fee as is given to their reguthe admission of Mr. Gilbert Dallison as a member, and larly-appointed medical referee :reference having been made to you for information respecting W. E. Forrester, M.D.; Thomas Bent, M.D.; Wm. his present and general state of health, I have to request on Baker, M.D.; James Heygate, M.D.; Douglas Fox, surhis behalf that you will favour the directors with answers to geon ; Wm. Bennet, surgeon; Edward Charles Rudkin, the enclosed queries. [Sixteen queries.] Permit me to add, surgeon; John Wright, surgeon; John Hill, surgeon; S. that it is important to the party himself that every question W. Fearn, surgeon; Charles Borough, surgeon; John should be answered in as full and correct a manner as possible. Lindley, surgeon; John Johnson, surgeon; J. Whitaker As communications of this nature areconsidered to be Johnson, surgeon; John Jones, surgeon; Augustus G. strictly confidential, and a reason for rejection is never Greaves, surgeon; Henry F. Gisborne, surgeon; Robert assigned, a perfect reliance may be felt, that should the tenHamilton, surgeon; John Webster, surgeon; Thos. Hardency of your answers be such as to induce the directors not wood, surgeon; Allen Borman, surgeon; Thomas Buxton, to accept the proposed candidate, the purport of them will surgeon; Edward Hoskins, surgeon; Joseph Butler, surnever be suffered to transpire, or to become in any way the geon ; Wm. Moore Wooler, surgeon. subject of observation. If with me in thinking that the publication of the I have further to solicit that you will have the kindness to aboveyou agree be useful, I shall feel obliged by its insertion in might return the accompanying certificate, addressed as above, at the Provi7icictl Journal; and perhaps you will not think it too your earliest convenience.-I am, &c. much trouble to cause it to be forwarded for insertion also in THEODORE COMPTON, Secretary. May 23rd, 1849. THE LANCET.—I remain, Sir, your obedient servant, JOHN JONES. Derby, June 5th, 1848. Derby, May 24th, 1848. EMIGRATION AND ARRANGEMENTS IN SIR,—Ihave just, received the form of certificate of health, which you request me to fill up for Mr. Gilbert Dallison. EMIGRANT SHIPS. In consequence of the frequent applications made to medical To the Editor of THE LANCET. men, by life assurance societies, for information respecting the health of persons desirous of having their lives insured, SIR,—In the number of your valuablejournal for May 20this the medical men of this town have entered into an agreement a letter, addressed to Lord John Russell, upon this important that they will not answer the list of queries sent to them on subject. It is quite clear that the writer has not seen the such occasions unless they are accompanied with the fee excellent regulations issued by the Government,—excellent ! whether as regards the small amount required from each usually given to the appointed referee of such societies. as a security for good conduct on board, and as an Waiting your reply, I remain, Sir, &c., ’ emigrant of JOHN JONES. JONES. evidence industry and frugality, (for the idle and dissolute Theodore Compton, Esq. JOHN can seldom muster the money,) or as regards the extreme care and precaution displayed in every matter relating to the London, May 25th, 1848. SIR,—In reply to your letter, I beg to state that we require health of the voyagers. Mr. Butler could never have written every person to give us satisfactory evidence of his health; the following passage had he been aware of these things :" The serious drawback to the present very limited plan of I can therefore only refer you to your patient, if you will not give your answers without a fee. Should we require any Government colonization is the uncomfortable and unhealthy provided in the small hired vessels, which .Special advice, or any examination, we shall be quite ready to accommodation induces to demand for we cannot think tenable but many object going out in them." merely your pay you, I enclose one of the printed regulations, in the hope you giving such information as you have at hand. will print a part of it for the information of the public. It I am, Sir, your obedient servant, will be seen that medical science and the medical profession THEODORE COMPTON. J. Jones, Esq. are appreciated by the Government, as every emigrant-ship is placed exclusively under the care of a medical man, not Derby, May 27th, 1848. I have accordance to to only as the doctor, but as SOLE SUPERINTENDENT during the your suggestion, SIR,—In applied Mr. Dallison for a fee before I answer the queries contained voyage, independently of which a number of medical men in the form of certificate of his health forwarded by you to have been appointed paid agents at home to examine and me, which lie declines paying; I am therefore under the report to the commissioners upon applicants, previous to necessity of refusing to fill up the certificate as requested. In their joining the ship. I have the honour to be, Sir, yours respectfully, doing so, I beg to state that I consider assurance societies June, 1848. AN EMIGRATION AGENT, L.A.C. & M.R.C.S. Lond. ought not to object to pay the remunerating fee to the medical attendant of the applicant for assurance, to whom they apply P.S.—Ihave in my possession a letter of thanks from two for information, for the following reasons :single men and two single women, who sailed some months ____
’