I tell you, the old-fashioned doctor who treated all diseases has completely disappeared, now there are only specialists, and they advertise all the time in the newspapers. If your nose hurts, they send you to Paris: there's a European specialist there, he treats noses. You go to Paris, he examines your nose: I can treat only your right nostril, he says, I don't treat left nostrils, it's not my specialty, but after me, go to Vienna, there's a separate specialist there who will finish treating your left nostril.

Summary

This quote highlights the changing nature of the medical profession, where general practitioners are becoming less common and specialists have become the norm. The quote humorously portrays the idea that doctors now specialize in specific areas and advertise their expertise extensively. It points out how this trend has led to a fragmented approach to healthcare, where patients are redirected to different specialists for different ailments, even within specific parts of the body. The quote underscores the specialization and sub-specialization in medicine, commenting on the complexity of seeking comprehensive treatment in today's healthcare system.

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