The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1897. QUACKS AND THEIR NOSTRUMS.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 190, 13 February 1897, Page 2

The Feilding Star, Oroua & Kiwitea Counties Gazette. Published Daily. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1897. QUACKS AND THEIR NOSTRUMS.

A few days ago we wrote on the subject of alleged " healers " who undertake to cure " all the ills that iesh is heir to" with a turn of the hand. Since then we have seen a very sensible letter, dealing with a parallel subject, in the Wellington Post over the signature of "An Old Settler." The writer draws attention to the state of law as regards the vending of patent medicines, and suggests an improvement would be effected if they were reported upon by properly qualified medical men appointed by the Governtment for the purpose. He goes on to say : — At present the Government seem to have no care or concern in the protection of the people from swindlers and impostors. It is the working classes who chiefly purchase these nostrums, to save the expense of consulting a properly qualified medical practitioner, and thus many a life is lost after long and painful suffering ; whereas, were there no patent medicines in the

colony (except such as should be favorably reported upon by Government doctors), the sufferers would go straight to a doctor in the first instance, and so many a life and much suffering would be saved. A vast amount of time and money is wasted by our Government. They take every care of themselves, but the people may go hang, or poison themselves, if they like, for all that they care." We do not altogether agree with "An Old Settler " in his condemnation of the Government for 1 this particular reason, but we do think that the people should be protected against themselves in respect to the articles mentioned, and that the Government might with advantage give some attention to the subject of itinerant quacks and quack medicines. There are several medicines which are patented having previously been submitted to tbe severest tests as to whether they were beneficial or injurious, and we believe they would be able to stand any trial to which they could he submitted in the colony, but there are others which would not be so fortunate. We think, therefore, the suggestion of "An Old Settler" deserves some consideration.