Franklyn Pierre Davis

“ This is very true in the profession of medicine. The successful physician must live in the manner of successful men. To do this, most men must live upon the income from their practice. If the physician properly cares for his wife and children, he must realize on his investment—his medical education. A man's first duty is to his own, and it is written that the man who fails to collect that which is due him, and "provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, is worse than an infidel." ”

“ The public will never place any higher value on your services than you do yourself. The death-knell of any physician's success is tolled when he becomes known as a "cheap doctor."
Not only must you require others to pay you, but you must also pay your own bills. Physicians, as a rule, are considered poor pay by business men. It is a very good rule in life to discount all bills that you owe, and never to discount a bill due you. ”

“ One hundred dollars' worth of other property to be selected by the debtor, and in addition, when the debtor is the head of a family and resides with the same, three hundred dollars' worth of other property to be selected by the debtor, provided the exemption shall not be allowed from any money, salary, or wages due the debtor. When the head of a family dies, deserts, or does not live with the same, the exemption continues to the family. No personal property is exempt from process under a judgment for a debt for the wages of a laborer or servant. ”

“ Only household goods, library, pictures, rights in cemeteries, and one cow and provisions, and fuel for one month, not exceeding five hundred dollars in value, are exempt [61] from execution issued on judgment for labor. No lien can be created by mortgage or otherwise on any of the above property, except on profession, etc., without the consent of the wife, if he have one, by signing such mortgage or lien.
If a person entitled to the benefit of a homestead shall die, his widow or minor children shall have the same benefit during the time they continue to occupy the same. ”

“ A private burying-ground not exceeding one-quarter of an acre, is also exempt. Insurance money, etc., paid or to be paid to a member, or the widow of a member of a life or casualty corporation doing business upon the co-operative or assessment plan, cannot be reached for any debt or liability incurred before such money, etc., was paid. The lot and buildings, not exceeding one thousand dollars in value, owned and occupied by a householder having a family are exempted, if designated and recorded as homestead property in the office of the clerk of the county where it is situated. ”

“ The man who answers calls at all hours of the day and night, for any and every one who may request his services; with no assurance of ever receiving pay; and who is afraid to demand settlement for fear of losing practice, is not competent to conduct his own affairs, much less to practice medicine. It is this class of men who make dead-beats of our patrons, and thus reduce the income of physicians to a point where a bare existence is all we can hope for. ”

“ There is exempt from judicial sale to every family, whether owned by the husband or wife, a homestead, not exceeding in value two thousand dollars, consisting of dwelling-house in which claimant resides, and its appurtenances, and land on which same is situated not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, or if within an incorporated city or village a quantity of contiguous land not exceeding two lots. Or in case debtor has no lands, there is exempt from execution five hundred dollars in personal property. ”

“ Man cannot live on air alone—even though it be flavored by the ambrosia of sweet compliments and the hypnosis of applause. Again, I have observed that a larger crowd will turn out any time to see a man hung than to compliment him on a duty well performed. ”

“ The man who carries more than one-third of his business on his books is a business failure. Old accounts breed knockers. Go thou to the lawyer and consider his ways—then cinch the money.
Never employ a collector on commission. Your office girl will prove the best collector if you have not time to attend to it yourself. In fact, for general collecting, she will prove the best collector you can get. Give her an honorium in addition to her salary if she makes good. At many places the collector will be informed that the party she is seeking is not at home, or is not in the office. ”

“ If the homestead is claimed upon land, the title or right of possession to which was acquired or is claimed under the laws of the United States relating to mineral lands, the area of the homestead, if within a town plat, must not exceed one acre, and if without a town plat, must not exceed forty acres. If the title to the homestead has been acquired as a placer claim but has been acquired under the laws of Congress as a lode mining claim, the area of the homestead must not exceed forty acres. ”

“ He should live in a manner in keeping with the dignity of the profession to which he has given his life. He must have a neat office, wear good clothes, have a happy home and a contented mind.
It is well to achieve the reputation of being an indefatigable and shrewd collector. It pays. It will influence your regular patrons to pay more promptly. It will also help to keep away those who trespass upon your time and never pay you. The only sure way to hold practice is to require your patrons to pay their bills promptly. ”

“ The law exempts from execution property, either real or personal, to the amount of three hundred dollars, in addition to wearing apparel, Bibles, and school books, if claimed by the debtor; the privilege is personal and may be waived at any time. The widow or children of any decedent are entitled to the same amount from his estate for her or their use. All sewing-machines belonging to private families are exempt. Non-residents of the State are not entitled to the exemption laws. ”

“ When the time comes that you cannot treat all your patrons as you would like for them to treat you if your positions were reversed, it is time for you to "Fold up your tent like the Arab and silently steal away," your usefulness is at an end. The day when you can make money in that location has passed.
Be kind to little children. Women and children furnish the greater part of our patrons. Men do not count for much in the practice of medicine,—unless you are a G-U specialist. ”

“ The horses or mules and their harness, one cart, wagon, or stage, one dray or truck, one coupe, hack or carriage for one or two horses, by use of which a cartman, drayman, truckster, huckster, peddler, hackman, teamster, or other laborer earns his living; and one horse and harness and one vehicle used by a physician, surgeon, or minister of the gospel in the practice or exercise of his profession. ”

“ All real and personal estate belonging to a married woman at the time of her marriage, and all she subsequently acquires or becomes entitled to in her own right, and all her personal earnings, and rents and profits of such real estate, shall not be liable for her husband's debts so long as she or any minor heir of her body is living, but her separate property is liable for debts owing by her at the time of her marriage. ”

“ I learned that most of my poor pay or slow pay patrons were always ready to borrow money, and that they could generally secure me with chattel mortgages, or get good men to sign their notes. The note and mortgage always covered the amount loaned and the amount of my bill. There are few who cannot give you suitable security, and these few should be turned over to the other doctor who is practicing for the love and honor of the profession. ”

“ So much of any debt which has accrued by reason of the personal services of the debtor as shall not exceed twenty-five dollars, including wages due for the personal services of any minor child under the age of twenty-one years, shall be exempted and not liable to be taken by foreign attachment or execution. ”

“ My excuse for presenting this little book to the profession is that I have often felt the want of just such information as is herein contained. In fourteen years of practice I have made it a point to study my patients and the business problems that confront the man in our profession. ”