WEST COAST TIMES. WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1865.

West Coast Times, Issue 25, 26 July 1865, Page 2

WEST COAST TIMES. WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1865.

It will bo in tho recollection of olir readers that an inquest was recently held at the Kaniori Township, on view of the body of a miner named John Bates, whoso death took place under circumstances which seemed to show gross ignorance on tho part of tho person who attended him as medical adviser during his illness. After haying heard the evidence of Dr. Rutherford llyley, and given tho case generally very careful consideration, tho jury found that the deceased died from natural causes* They added a rider, howevei, imputing very great blame to the so-called medical attendant, and in forcible, though not very dignified language, recorded their opinion that " such men*' should not be allowed to practice. Mr Robert "Westwood, Medical Herbalist, at present of tho town of Kaniori, is the gentleman referred to in such flattering terms, and he has sent us a letter (published in another oolumn) assailing tho testimony of Dr. ,Ryloy,, and placing his own conduct in tho most favorable light. To this course, ho sayo '* lam compelled by a sense of justice to myself, and at ,tho request of a number of my friends and patients;" but it would have been wiser in every way had ho silently accepted tho deliberately recorded judgment of hia fellow-men, and for tho future shunned tho sin and danger which an ignorant man must necessarily incur when ho thrusts himself forward as a medical practitioner. Of Mr Westwood wo know nothing further than what was disclosed at tin? inquest, but he- then told us that for three and thirty years he had been" a "medical herbalist" — that he had, in fact, during that period acted as " medicine man" to all who could be persuaded to put faith in his nostrums. Apothecaries' Hall and the Royal Co)lcgo of Surgeons knew him not, neither had ho degree, diploma, or ccvtiAcate of any kind, to show that ho possessed moro knowledge than an ordinal y sweep or a "literary dustman ;" Jus, language wos the languago of a clown ; and his account of the symp(toms( 'toms of John Bates* disease would have excited laughter by its grotesque absurdity had uot the seriousness of the. subject for-

■\»sd it. 'Sko toeftpWrprcßcnßecfffiTSK Westwood were calculated, said Dr. ttylcy, to intensify tho disorder they wcro intended to alleviate. On the same nutho ritya (very good one, we may remark ir passing) the caso wns a purely surgica one, and Mr Westwood prescribed pills and draughts with as much reason au cm< would uso the like JP^V? B^]^ I ;^^ I leg oy^dis^tfafr w e*f > t&*ottnv^sS^St im^i^^ cs^i^^^Qli^^tSctvd % 'Hw'o •fOsbjj§?.s<owlsp oi' f-ood roputo, and Tposseireirfg diplomas from well-known universities, left no doubt au to the cause of death, and also showed satisfactorily that had proper treatment been pursued tho man would, in all probability, have recovered. ' Practice is said to mako porfect, but if, after the attempts of thirty-thrco years, Mr Westwood's experience could suggest no better remedy for strangulated 1 hernia than racking pills" and' dose's compounded of ammonia and common salt, it would, perhaps, bo treading on dclicato .ground to inquire what generally happened r to his patients during his earlier years as l a medical horbolist. D.D.~- discharge;!, 'doad, as they write- after a seaman's name in tho navy, would, wo fear, bo 'too often" found in his note-book. Mr Westwood is but tho typo of ix class I of men who, in every part of tho world and in all ages, have traded on tho Bufferings of humanity. Grossly ignorant both " theoretically and practically of tho healing art, they, nevertheless, contrive, in too '" many instances, to imposo on tho unwary. They are token at their, own , valuation j ' they dub themselves, ".doctors," and at o believed by tho ignorant to have a right to tho designation. Patients com ( c to them to bo cured. .Those, who ( dio under, their Hands tell no lules, and .thoso who survive are prone to attribtito'their recovery to'tho drugs they have swallowed, ratjier than, to a good constitution and tho efforts of nature to sot herself right. As years Jgo by, tho last lingering feelings of BUumanity become obliterated, and so as ho gets his fees, and conto avoid a prosecution for mantho quack troubles himself but misery ho may bring upou hi;) Lidvico. The f^oklfidaj

of Australia proved splendid " diggings " indeed for these impostors. They set up their temples in out-of-tlic-way gullies whoro a properly qualified medical man was but rarely seen, and where the chances of detection of malpractice was but smiill. No doubt they killed hundreds in those early days of the Australian goldftekls, and left others invalids or cripples for life. Sinco the soil of New Zealand has proved auriferous, and thousands of miners)— amongst which class are thoir best cus-tomers—-havo flocked hithorward, not I a few of theso self-constituted doctors have also made their appearance and practised with varying measures, pf success. i The question wo would proposo, arid" it is a very serious one, and one that hes often been propounded before, js how can society bo best protected against those pests? The law here, so far as wo can a(vcertain, offers no impediment to tho quack doctor. Jlc may practise with impunity* "so long as it cannot bo distinctly prove* that his treatment has actually cauet'l death, A properly qualified medical mn; j is in that respect on exactly tho same fooij ing, though to prove malpractico on t'^i part of tho latter would, of course, in an)* caso bo a more difficult matter — ho hiuvi self being an expert, and, prinia faoio, lvifi treatment as likely to bo correct as that oju those who might bo called to give evidenoa" against him. Ho is also entitled to have his namo inserted in tluTNow Zealand Go* vornment "Gazette" on producing bofore| a Resident Magistrate a diploma recognised in Great Britain. It cannot bo denied' that in largo towns and in settled coi^ munitics a regulation cuoli as tin aboyo ■ likoly to have a very beneficial effect in keeping improper persons out of the pale of medical praotico ; ' but even in such places it is not found sufficient, and in a community like our own it appears littjo short, of useless. < What i 3 wanted, it seems to us, is a stringent law " forbidding under heavy penalties " any one from praoI tising as a medical man until ho shall have satisfied, spmo duly constituted authority '' that ho , is 'tho holder, of a medical degree or; diploma recognised in Great Britain. ' Tliero is no other teet of efficiency,' and tho safety of the community can be epoWj MBatos/it was sKbwn tfia^not only might hit \ life havo been sftvca had he haft propt?) medical attendance, which might hav< " been obtained in an hour from Hokitikn II but that tho medicines given Aim by tho ] ll " medical herbalist " _ w^rp Calculated to i a ur;\Q-9W f l^ dj ( ?Dv;«le)i; ;^o4 $\U\\>, }f&fji><ty§. "3> *»ssss* ayevdicjf-^ ;^^ei^' from natuvai "* "r : fl\lflcs,"^Rfavmft' Mr Wesiwood !'v c to resumo l\iri ncTunouu calUnt';, punished in no way Gave by tho riiLr to thu verdict — that " fluch men should not bo allowed to practice." Tho ranch desired and anxiously lookod-for tolograph to Christchuroh appears to havo been Boriously taken in hand by tho Governmont, and a chnnco 'exists that [b may now bo comploted boforo tho no'cecity for it has passed away. Tenders nro called for tho conveyance of somo ton .tons o£ material to difl'oront points on tho proposed lino of voulo, but wo should bo fay better, pleased if wo could boo somo chance of tho caid material boing landed. Originally shipped on board tho Omeo, it had to bo takon on to Nelson, dinohargcd there, and again brought down to Ilokitlka by tho schooner Crest of tho Wavo now lying outside, and with ovory prospect ,of romaining thoro till eho can bo towei} in, for tho prosent ontranco to tho port is certainly nnything but inviting to sailing oraft. Judging from Iho domand for ovory moans of conveying goods to tho Grey, anil tlio perpetual etw'ng of packhorsea and drays leaving itokltika, thoro inuot be a largo population located thoro ; and even yet, though tho great rush ia protty; nearly over, otray parties of hcavily-owaggcd individuals may oftdn bo Bcon with faces turned towards tho north. Il is diflionlt to sta'to oxVot' Vdturris, but ruuiwa «5 pounds' weight tq tho dish aro plontlful enough, though it soldpm happens that tho porson who makos tho statcmont is the ono who naw tho prospect, Wo aro informed, however, on vory good authority, that though somo havo bcon very fortunato indeed, ypt all tho ground is taken up, imd . nowooiaoivt must , prospect for thcrasolvcs. ' It is Btated'that many— (" hundreds " was tho word, but wo will allow for exaggeration) -many mon aro wandoririg about tho i nold, looking in vain for n olmnco to sot( in. A rush is rumored, to Iho south of llokitikn, .but , no information of its wboroabouts, or othor paitioulara, havo rcaohod us, ' Ono party who havo been J working "on tho quiot " aro reported to Havo got ) 28 pounds weight of gold. Wo wish to remark tbat . tho abovo is given simply as a rumour. * ifl An nddrcKß, unanimously signed by tho passongflJ 3 on board tho Kosolla, has been prosonted to Captain f Sellars, deploring tho unfortunate termination of the voyago, but bearing toatiinony to his kiudness, and consideration for their comfort throughout the voyngo. ' i^ " MrSalo stated In tho Couit yoslofday that hii ». jurißdiullon is now extended lo t!jc sum of .CIOO Tliiu nowswill oo receive. 1 l>y ovuiy buiiinesi man \\ 1 town with aatibfauliju, but one thing i;i ulill uecc* •J ury -the i>ic aiicc Di .i lo^illy-'iiuliiicd judye. ,

We liavo received a letter from Mr Shepherd, a passenger by the Titanin, bearing testimony to tho truth of tho address prcsonted to Captain Hughes, and repotting that his absence from Hokitika prevented him from. also signing it. As an investigation has taken place, a mere expression of opinion by a passengor is not of particular value ; but as ovidonco of Captain Hughes' gentlemanly conduct, wo should bo happy to insort tho lottor bvit that tho spaco devoted to correspondence has already been exceeded. Captain Poolc, of tho Lconidas— one of tho vessels now lying outside waiting for ftn opportunity to enter — camo ashoro on Monday, in one of tho snip's boaty nnd only by a "fluko" escaped boing drowned, togoihor with bis crow. Tho eoa, though wondorfully calm for this placo, was quito rough enough to pitch the skipper from tho stern, whoro ho was Billing, ou to one of tho thwarts, and send overy oar into tho uir, As luok would linvo it, tho boat did not broaoh to, and was successfully beached ; but it was by n wonderful chance, and certainly ought to act ns a warning to any ships outside attempting to commuuicato with shoro by means of small boatsTho Loonidas has made a smart run of nine days from Melbourne, and had wo a tug here, might now ho lying niongsido tho wharf, Captain Foolo crossed the bar going out without accident, audcot safoly on board again, accompanied by "Long^nn," or Mr Jaa. Tier, of whom report speaks as our new pilot. Tho polico arc determined to do thoir duty, apparently, ami ccc that tho revenue is not dofrtmded. Yoßtorduy a quantity of spirits was seized at tho cstnblishuieuts of two storekeepers in Hokitika, Mho had omitted to tako out wholosalo liconses. It may bo as woll for " new chums" to know that by suoh omission, tboy not only rondor thomsoles liablo to bo fined, but tho grog confiscated to tho— well, police. It will bo observed by an advertisement in another column that the timo for sending in tondors for the Hokitika steam tug eorvico bas been cxtonded from Thursday, tho 27th instant, to Thursday, tho 3rd August. Tho Roy. J. Bullor, of Christohurch, liaa arrived overland from tbftt town, and will preach in tbo Corinthian Hall, on Sunday noxt, tho 80th instant, at 11 a.m. nnd 7 p.m. Wo regret to hoar of a doplorablo nccidont that occurred on Monday in connexion with tho present rush to the Grey. It appears that fi party of fivo men left tho Toramakau for tbo Grpy River in a wlialeboat, and woro successful in getting safely over tho bar and out to sea ; but in attempting to enter tho Groy tho boat swamped, and all k tho poor fellows wero drowned. Wo cannot too strongly condemn tho fool hardiness — wo can find no other torra — which induces mon needlessly to risk their lives to obtain tho smallest possiblo result, and j which is constantly leading to occurrences mioh as tho forcgoingt Deplorablo aa tho losa of lifo usually • is on a gold Hold, and has been on this, it is only snr- . prising that so few acoidonts lmvo occurred, considering tho usual recklessness of tbo minors. Tho ' iprovorb say 3 "Pibvidenco watches ovor drunken i Saen and children ;" it cortainly Bhould inoludo dign Xciv, for their escapes Bomctiinea aro little less than miraculous. 1 \ It is with much rcgrot wo annonnco the wreck of Jinothor vessel at tho mouth of the Hokitika RiverX >Tho schooner llosella, from tl^'Matflwni^ Wftu''pas- '' aeitfjou} und ggnoral cargo, came n.'lioio On ' Monday, ' nai'ihg grounded on tbo soulborn spit in crossing tho >' 01/nnnel the wind euddonly .'droned, aud not being '( ft))]<f to mnko headway against the current of the (- 1 i'i'/^ the surf quickly drop L^j.osJjoic hiuiK.'iu.... 1/ 3 adjoining tho wreck cf tho 4u^s§uci3-&-ft& > - The 'lon-Halms only bqon bui^ aj&^ontW »u<| -is J^t ,mcd to tho eiiin of hSOQ.tflify- passage 'frojn \ha U.Miuk'iu has boen^ Ipngjii fi f iy* \la Msfe^Sts?J^?%*3 P^ y tf»jily to o»T[tjsf.'^Orf > \j<Jr&fb^;ffMiT.rrf''4Tioy' v/er otprov^t6n») ? fend hud not a pin vf fr|sh wafei* on board. M«oh anxiety ia*folt regarding the fate of William Scott who has been missing for a week under tho following circumstances. It would appear that ho nnd his luatou woro working on tho Mokonui (about 20 miles to tho south of Hokitika), and having learnt tho now« regarding tbo now rush to tho Groy, tfioy determined to send Scott to that locality. Accordingly ho started, and on making tho beach found n pjwkor who offoicd to carry thd swag to Hokitika. This Wai accepted, and tho packer 'started, leaving 3cotb ftnd .another to , follow. They procured v •)ottlo of brandy, and though they also started it n\; jpcars tliat they did not go far boforo they finished tho brandy, which canoed thorn to fall nsletp. On awaking they found it was dark, and being uncertain ,ar to tho proper path to puvsuo, tho missing rnau i plunged into a pond or small lako, which aro numerous in tho vicinity, again. t tho wishes of lih companion, who afterwards repeatedly coooy'd to him. 'Scott, after swimming somo time, anwerod and said heregrottcd having gono in. This was tho last heard of him.' Hio companion having found tho path prooccded on to this placo, expecting Scotfc would follow, but bis prolonged absouco caused thoothor to wrfto to Scott's matea Mr Camoron having procured a boat, searched for two days, but no traces of him havo boon found, savohia hat, which was found in t'te bushes at tho o'dgo of tho lako into wJiioh he plunged.