CURIOUS QUACK MEDICINE CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 505, 30 November 1881, Page 1

CURIOUS QUACK MEDICINE CASE

At Warwick Police Court latelyjaßonry Norman, a “Cheap Jack,” was with having obtained a shilling by false pretences, from John Magee, valet, o 26th August. On the day named, inspector Hall visited prisoner’s pavilion, where 200 or 300 persons were assembled. Prisoner produced a Chinese tea-chest, which he proceeded to break open.. Then he descanted on the wonderful .genius and marvellous intelligence of the Chinese, and producing from the chest bottles, which where carefully packed in sawdust, said, “ These have come all the China. They contained, he said, Chinese malachite,” a great medicine, which’was a specific for rheumatism, shortness or breath, and various other maladies. It could, he added, be purchased of all chemists at 10s 6d a bottle ; but ten showhow they imposed on the public, he would sell it at Is a bottle. Then he sold a number of bottles, and Magee, who suffered from tightness of the ■ chest, bought one, which he subsequently handed to the police. He had been unable to test its efficacy, as his wife refused to allow him to take it. Henry Watts, watchmaker, of Coventry, who had been in prisoner’s employ about B ®^ n . stated that prisoner made the Malachite himself. It was made of “ Chill pods, aniseed, cloves, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and black sugar. The cos would be only about a farthing a bottle, and the prisoner would sometimes sell 1,200 or 1,300 bottles. Mr Hugo Yo\ing, of the Midland Circuit, in addressing the Bench for the defence, contended that the accused was entitled to call his medicine “ Chinese malachite,” the same as other concoctors of medicines gave them distinctive names. The Bench at once dismissed the case without comment! ihe result was received with immense cheering, which was repeated l outside the Court.