Greshamsbury was only fifteen miles from Barchester, where there was a
regular depot of medical skill, and but eight from Silverbridge, where
a properly established physician had been in residence for the last
forty years. Dr Thorne's predecessor at Greshamsbury had been a
humble-minded general practitioner, gifted with a due respect for the
physicians of the county; and he, though he had been allowed to physic
the servants, and sometimes the children of Greshamsbury, had never had
the presumption to put himself on a par with his betters.

Then also, Dr Thorne, though a graduated physician, though entitled
beyond all dispute to call himself a doctor, according to all the laws
of the colleges, made it known to the East Barsetshire world, very soon
after he had seated himself at Greshamsbury, that his rate of pay was
to be seven-and-sixpence a visit within a circuit of five miles, with a
proportionally increased charge at proportionally increased distances.
Now there was something low, mean, unprofessional, and democratic in
this; so, at least, said the children of AEsculapius gathered together
in conclave at Barchester. In the first place, it showed that this
Thorne was always thinking of his money, like an apothecary, as he was;
whereas, it would have behoved him, as a physician, had he had the
feelings of a physician under his hat, to have regarded his own
pursuits in a purely philosophical spirit, and to have taken any gain
which might have accrued as an accidental adjunct to his station in
life. A physician should take his fee without letting his left hand
know what his right hand was doing; it should be taken without a
thought, without a look, without a move of the facial muscles; the true
physician should hardly be aware that the last friendly grasp of the
hand had been more precious by the touch of gold. Whereas, that fellow
Thorne would lug out half a crown from his breeches pocket and give it
in change for a ten shilling piece. And then it was clear that this