Correspondence.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 241, 10 February 1860, Page 2

Correspondence.

To the Editor of the. Colonist.

Sir, —Some time ago there appeared in your paper a letter signed "An Invalid." To offer a few observations to that communication seems to me not out of place. There are two sides from which we might possibly be able to bring out the real worth of the writer's letter, which must be considered either in the light of truth, or in that of falsehood ; we must consider it either as the production of an honest thinking man, or as emanating from a slanderous and corrupted mind; either as emanating from one, who is desirous of benefitting his fellowman, or of one, who for some reason unknown, wishes to slander the respectable body of our medical practitioners; or one of that body in particular. Which place now have we to assign to the writer? We must reason thus: Is he a slanderer? Well, then, he was wise in calling himself " An Invalid," and cover bis corrupted mind cowardly with the mask of sickness. Is he an honest thinking man, wishing to command respect ? then he will stand forward to serve his fellow-citizens by throwing off the mask and giving them the name of that person, who has shown himself to him as an iraposter, in order that he may be avoided by others and publicly exposed. Respectfully yours, ANOTHER LOVER OF TRUTH. Nelson, 9th Feb.*, 1860.

To the Editor ofthe Colonist. Sißj—Some anonymous letters have lately appeared in your paper, calling into question the correctness of the Nelson Directory, in reference to the names of" medical practitioners." I shall take no notice of the spirit of envy, malice, irony, and humbug which pervades some of these letters; but, with your permission, shall proceed to notice them seriatim.

In the first place, however, I challenge any of your correspondents to prove that any of the persons styled inthe Directory " Medical Practitioners" are kot (or were not at the time the book was

compiled) persons who practised the, '? healing art" as a profession. \y ' _ . *; Your first correspondent, "An Invalid, :( who I suspect has more phermacology than bodily weakness about him,) says:—" Arriving here a stranger," (he does not say when) "and desiring efficient medical aid, I called in a practitioner, and was subsequently informed, to my alarm, vthe person possessed no legal claim to the function.' What is the legal claim? I asked, when I read the letter. „ • And then I paused for a reply until the next paper brought "A Lover of Truth," who kindly informed the public that duly qualified men, prior to practising in Nelson, are required by an Act of the Province of Munster, &c, "to register their diplomas in the office of the Resident Magistrate.'" All which is quite correct,—except that any person can "practise whether " duly qualified " or not • and that prior to practising he is not required to register his diploma, or anything of the sort. I should therefore recommend this gentleman, who professes himself to be so fond of truth to search a little deeper into the well before he publishes his dogmas. He would find, if he had read the Ordinance, the title of which he quotes so patly, that Doctor or Bachelor of Medicine, or any member of any College of Surgeons, or of the Apothecaries Company "in Great Britain and Ireland," may, on producing his diplomas before the Resident Magistrate, and paying a fee of ss, be declared a "legally qualified medical practitioner, and be entitled to claim his guinea for giving evidence at Coroner's inquests or his two guinea^ for making postmortem examinations. And that is all. lhere is nothing in the Ordinance that prevents (or imposes a penalty upon) persons practising Without having previously exhibited their diplomas: nothing to prevent me from prescribing to my friend Snooks a dose of castor oil when he has the stomach-ache; nothing to prevent my receiving payment for aay advice, even though m the shape of blessings or something else according to the benefit derived from such advice. It is quite true that medical men possessing diplomas from only foreign universities cannot be considered (in the terms of this Ordinance) " legally qualified medical practitioners j" yet that does not prevent such men from ministering to the cause ot humanity, and from gaining a fame and a popularity that is not always attained by the possessors of the legal qualifications above referred to. 1 hear that a Memorial is now in course of signature in Nelson, praying the General Assembly to bring the English Medical Act in force in New Zealand. This would probably have the good effect of checking quackery and empiricism; but it would also most likely deprive the public ofthe services of some of those popular favourites above alluded to—merely because they do not possess British diplomas. . ' I had almost forgotten to notice the letter of " Justice;" but many of the above remarks will equally apply to him as to the " Lover of Truth." I trust that both these writers are like " Ceasar's wife," &c.; but I would caution one of them to be careful that his love of truth does not again induce him to make statements that may render him liable to an action for libel. Apologising for having trespassed so much upon your space while endeavoring to prove that the public will "be no longer deceived by an inaccurate Directory," at all events in reference to " Medical Practitioners."

Believe me to be, The public's most obedient servant, The Compiler of the Directory. Nelson, February 8,1860.