Monday, January 03, 2005

Sometimes a cigar is just...

From JAMA 43:1977 (1904):

"...A physician received a box of cigars by mail with a bill therefor and with a letter, stating that, although the physician had not ordered the cigars, yet the maker took the liberty of sending them, convinced that he would find them excellent. The cigars were good and the physician smoked them. When the box was empty he sent the maker several prescriptions, accompanied by a bill for the same, which amounted to the same as the bill for the cigars, and accompanied by a letter stating that, although the cigarmaker had not asked for medical advice from him, yet he took the liberty of sending him some prescriptions, convinced that he would find them excellent."