—— Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Sept. 9, 1910.
Mr. John Peters, Beeville, Wisconsin.
Dear Sir: Recently, at the suggestion of a mutual friend, I mailed to your address a copy of a pamphlet containing an account of what has been accomplished in the treatment of cases similar to yours by an entirely new method. This I hope you have received and had time to read over carefully as I am confident you will find it of interest.
The gentleman referred to (who requests that his name be withheld) has told me considerable about your case—just enough to arouse professional curiosity. This is my only excuse for intruding upon you. If you will kindly forward details, stating length of illness, nature of symptoms, what has been accomplished in the way of treatment, etc., I may be able to use the information to the benefit of others similarly afflicted.
Should I be able to offer any suggestions or advice which may tend to improve your condition, I shall be glad to do so. For this there will be no fee or charge of any kind—it will be merely exchanging one favor for another.
Yours very truly,
G. H. Wilkinson, M.D.
No appeal here to come in and be relieved of a big fee; no intimation that the doctor would like to have Mr. Peters as a pay patient. On the contrary the doctor only seeks information that may be of benefit to other patients. At least this is the way Mr. Peters interprets it.
“Fine fellow, that doctor,” says Mr. Peters as he reads the letter, and he sits him down “with pen in hand” to describe his case, invariably winding up with an enquiry as to whether the doctor thinks there is any hope for him. The reply from Mr. Peters is forthcoming all the quicker because the doctor has thoughtfully enclosed a plain stamped envelope bearing the written (not printed or type-written) address, “G. H. Wilkinson, —— Michigan Ave., Chicago.” No M.D., attached to the title, nothing to give the inquisitive hangers-on at the post office in Beeville a clue to the true nature of the communication. When these busybodies happen to catch a glimpse of Mr. Peters’ letter they have no suspicion that it is a doctor their fellow townsman is writing to. Nothing to show it on the envelope. No doctor’s return card in the corner, no printed or even type-written address.