40

[d. WISHAET.

1.—14.

33 I suppose you are aware that those men, having a recognised standing from the professional standpoint, were men who have passed through a course of lectures such as those, say, at Edinburgh?—l agree with you, sir. Dr. McElwee was the Chief Health Officer at St. Louis, and surely he was no fool. . . ... , ~ ~ 34 Where did he graduate?—ln America. I guess that surgeons in America will hold their own with others, either here or on the Continent. I suppose there is no greater surgeon than Mcßurney, of America. . ~ _ 35 How is it that in New Zealand such men have difficulty in getting registered?- Because the medical men in New Zealand hold that their diplomas are not so good as their own; but, asi a matter of fact, they are quite as good. I venture to say that if these medical men had to study in America they would not find themselves where they are. There is not a man in America that holds an official position in a hospital without getting it by competitive examination. 36. Do you know the length of the course in America: is there a hve-years course?—lt was three years ; it is now four. .. 37. Are you aware that it is three years now?—lt is not three. There is no reputable college in America that would pass a man in three years. 38. We have men applying to get on the Register here who have not had a four-years course I— That may be; but that is not the law in America to-day. 39 Since you have been in practice, have you had any cases sent to you by medical men I— Not sent to me. I have had lots of cases come to me from medical men, but not sent by them. 40. Do you consult a medical man before you treat? —No. 41. You diagnose yourself ?—Undoubtedly. _ , , 42. And you base your diagnosis on a six-months course in an institute in America?—lt is not based on that at all. . 43 After putting in a six-months course you started to practise I —l did not. 44! How many years elapsed from the time you took your course before you started practising—how many years? —Less than two. 45. And since then you have been continually carrying on this work?—l have; but 1 carried on the work before I went to America. 46. How long?— Since I joined the army in 1865 I have been treating. 47. Do you charge? —Yes, I guess I do. 48. What is your scale of fees? —7s. 6d. a visit, including medicine. 49 You prescribe then ?—Yes, I prescribe my own medicine. 50. I suppose you are aware that it is unlawful to charge?—l am not aware of any such thing; 1S 51° You could not recover in a Court of law for giving advice?—lt is nor unlawful for me to practice medicine. 52 Are there other men practising on the same lines?—JNot many. 53. Are you the only man practising in Dunedin as a homoeopath ?—I believe I am the only unregistered practitioner. 54. You have read the provisions of this Bill? —I have. 55 Do you agree with the object in view ?—Yes, I do. 56 Do you approve of all the clauses in the Bill ?—No, Ido not. . 57' To what clause or clauses do you take exception?—l object to the Board proposed to be set UP ' V.VmjZSfS dare say you and the members of this Committee are perfectly well aware that there is direct antagonism between the two schools of medicine and I dare say you are also aware that the homoeopath uses very little medicine as compared with the pharmaceutical practitioners. The homoeopath uses very small amounts of drugs. I make as. many as fifteen hundred or two thousand prescriptions a year, and my drug-bill does not amount to TsuppTy every one with medicine; so that a man like me going before the Board would be condemned before he was heard should afi d d the public agai t adventurers and charlatans even if they be practising the same as you are?-Yes, m a sense, undoubtedly; but of Juri there are more ways of protecting the public. For instance, if you allowed a man like ™lf to recover fees it would be some protection. In a case of overcharging, there would be undoubtedly right to appeal to law, and if the Resident Magistrate or Supreme Court Judge thoughtlhe y charge g was the patient would have redress. Undoubtedly an unregistered man shou dbe allowed to collect his fees by process of law, seeing that he has to pay taxes. It is not fair, if I have to pay taxes in all directions., that I should not by law be allowed to recover in New Zealandl-No, although there are a lot of intelligent neocle who prefer the homoeopathic treatment and practice, we are in a minority. people who prefer t 1 & praotige h pa t hy , whether t>l. Do you MJ y not?—l think if a man knew nothing about it he would very soon homoeopathic medicines and drugs accurately he would get no effect. tise without the requisite knowledge-would not that be 62 But allowing any F harm?—No, sir. I say that emphatically, and I will Uke y 1D a m nTnst C ance fwent to America to study medicine I did not go because I could not £r a Tvin e 2Shingle. Thave studied medicine ever since I was alad I was invalided fSm the army through overstudy, and I came out to New Zealand a semi-invalid. I was on the St of breSil down again, when in sheer desperation I went to Dr. Wanless who was a graduate Sun Sty LdTanftell ng you what is an absolute fact when I say that from one consultation