Medicine: Beer Kegs

Many a doctor will tell you that his calling is a hard one, but at least he can say that he is his own man. He can determine the size and nature of his practice, fix the amount of his fees, take time off for a fishing trip whenever he can afford to (and the state of his patients permits). He dreads the phrases “state medicine,” “group medicine,” “collective medicine,” as devilish harbingers of a day when he will be a mere salaried employe, taking the jobs and patients he is told to.

Many a dentist feels the same way—for example, Dr. Collins Aloysius LeMaster, who for 28 years practiced in St. Louis and for almost as long taught dental radiology (Xray technique) at St. Louis University. Some years ago, when dentists generally began to install their own X-ray outfits, Dr. LeMaster’s laboratory business fell off. Then the “state medicine” bugaboo came along. Dr. LeMaster decided to get out of dentistry entirely.

Having had some voice lessons, he gave some thought to singing as a career. His brother, a professional singer, listened and shook his head. But doughty Dr. LeMaster was determined never to become “a mere cog in the machine of state medicine.” There were always beer kegs. He went to see Firestone Steel Products Co., which manufactures stainless steel beer kegs. Last week Dr. LeMaster started out as one of their salesmen.