Page 2 Advertisements Column 4

New Zealander, Volume 10, Issue 885, 7 October 1854, Page 2

[Advertisement. J HOMOEOPATHY. To the Editor of the New-Zealander. ~IR,—I am impelled, by a sense of duty to the com- „ J m unity and my own profession, to seek to place on record, for general information and public warning, an instance which has just occurred of the mischief and danger resulting from unskilful interference in cases where limb or life is seriously implicated. I have the fullest authority from the victim ot his own folly, to publish the following particulars. The individual alluded to is Mr. George Hill, of this place. He says:— •'On the passage from Melbourne to Auckland, when on deck, on the 22nd ult., I accidentally fell, and injured my right shoulder. Three days after mv accident, on reaching my destination, I was prevailed ou to commit myself into the hands of what is called a ' Homoeopathic' physician, by whom I was, in the most confident and unhesitating manner, assured that my shoulder was not d'slocuted, but only tprairwd; and that he would set me to rights in a short time. Assisted by his apprentice (who grasped my chest) he swung my arm rudely about, in order, as he said, to supple the joint, thereby causing mo excruciating pain. Ho also gave me a small quantity of some white powder, which he desired me to dissolve in water, and to swallow in teaspoonsful. [Note —were those doses infinitesimal ones?] I did so, and was violently griped. I waited on him on four days during the week, but, finding that 1 obtained no relief, and was utterly unable to raise my arm into a horizontal position, or indeed to make any use of it, I determined, on the evening of the 3rd inst., to consult Dr. Philson, who, on examination, found that my shoulder was realty nut of joint, and pointed out to mc how I had been deceived. " On the following morning I attended in Dr. Matthews's surgery, in Shortland-street, and was examined by several medical gentlemen, who immediately recognized the true nature of my case. "The pulleys were applied, and soon I had the satisfaction of feeling the head of the bone slip into its socket, with much less pain than that inflicted on mc by the Homoeopath and his assistant." [Mr. Hill cannot write as his right arm is injured."] "Geo. Hill." His x mark.

The above narrative wps given in the presence of the following medical men:—Dr. Thomson, 58th Ilegt., Drs. Davies, Dalliatoii, Matthews, and myself; and it (as well as the process of reduction) was witnessed by a friend of the patient, Mr. Short. These, Mr. Editor, are facts, and cannot be gainsayed. Such a case of nial-prncticc in a regular professional man would render him liable to prosecution, entail heavy damages, and most probably drive him fr»m practice altogether. Can a man (who is unable to detect and discover a plain, palpable, external affection,) be competent to discriminate an internal, deeply-seated disease, where a knowledge of anatomy and pathology is indispensable? From the above case .we may well draw the conclusion that, in the system of the."illustrious Hahnemann," a knowledge of anatomy and surgery is not necessary; aud that all diseases—external as well as internal —may be treated by any oue who has possession of a Homcaopathic book and a box of globules !!! As to the present condition and future prospects of the subject of Homoeopathic m«/-treatment, 1 can only say that, however favourably he may be getting on note" (by the way he told me that the " first refreshing sleep be has had for thirteen nights was on the night of the reduction,") his ultimate recovery of the use of a limb suffered to continue out of joint for nearly a fortnight, is, I am sorry to say, matter of uncertainty. 1 am. Sir, yours, &c, T. M. Thilsok, M.D. Auckland, sth Oct., 1854. P.S.—Your contemporary cites an extract in praise of Homoeopathy for " Horses;" I suppose it would be equally good for "Asses," and should be glad to have information on the subject. T. M. r.