THE EYE TOHUNGA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1094, 10 September 1912, Page 3

THE EYE TOHUNGA.

The ways of itinerant oculists, describing themselves as “ eye specialists,’’ were referred to by Mr J. A. Young in the House of Representatives 011 Friday night, when the Estimates were under review. Mr Young backed up a general warning against unqualified practitioners in eye troubles by citing a concrete instance which had come under his own observation. He stated that on one occasion he met a man, whom he had formerly known as a worker in some very humble capacity, stylishly dressed in “a tail-coat and a boiled shirt.’’ Asking the reason of this magnificence, he was informed that the one-time humble toiler had blossomed out as an “eye specialist,” “He told me,” said Mr Young, “ that he had just done a certain town, had visited so many houses, and had made such and such a sum. I asked him how be managed it, and he explained that he carried a set of lenses for ‘sight testing.’ When he visited a house he offered to test the eyes of the whole family free of charge. Then everybody would take a turn with the lenses, from lather and mother down to ‘little Jimmy.’ The ‘eye specialist’ would be sure to discover that some member or members of the lamily suffered from miopia, or other eye trouble. This was where the profits of the business came in. He would offer to supply a pair of iron-rimmed spectacles for 10s 6d, but for a pair of gold-mounted glassed be would demand £2 10s. He would offer, however, to make a reduction ol ros on that amount, provided the wearer of the glasses agreed to give him a testimonial six months later if they proved satisfactory. This would probably be looked upon as a great concession, aud the ‘eye specialist’ not infrequently sold for £2 what was worth no more than three or four shillings.’' Mr Young suggested that the Government, while providing tor the medical and dental inspection of schoolchildren, might very well takeaway from quack practitioners the task of examining defective eyes.