1.—14;

J. bkadleY.]

51

&o, is, we consider, the patient's own vitality. Our lever for moving or focussing that vitality is suggestion, and suggestion alone. When I say suggestion I do not mean necessarily a plain affirmation. A plain bold statement, trying to peisuade the patients that they are well in the face of evidence to the contrary, is not our art, and although many men think we do this, it is astray from our lines entirely. We use neither medicines, lotions, powders, nor surgical instruments in any shape or form, and ridicule the mischievous talk of our work being superior to or tending to replace the work of medical doctors and surgeons. We regard our work as being other than and an addition to that which doctors and surgeons practise, and consider they would no more think of taking it up than they would massage, because their time is too precious. We always work with the doctors, and never undertake any serious case without their opinion and diagnosis, and always send patients requiring examination to a qualified medical man. We welcome the advent of this Committee of inquiry, and trust that in addition to purifying the question of medicines and prescriptions, you will also give some attention to the purifying of this subject. We have for some time been endeavouring to arrive at a solution of the problem, but have now every confidence in leaving the subject in your hands, feeling that the matter will at last be placed on a proper and satisfactory basis. The position now is simply this: that the fortune-teller and clairvoyant advertise themselves as metaphysicians, and a disgusting medley is the result. Again, strangers bounce into existence through the columns of the papers, with sparks flying fiom every point of their being, and undertake to do anything but tell the truth. A man of my name came here three years ago in this way, and lam still blamed for some of his capers. If there is anything else I can state I shall be glad to answer through questions put by the Committee without taking up any more time. I have some cases here, which, if you wish to hear them, I shall be very pleased to cite. b. Yes, give us some of your cases? —The first case is that of a gentleman who came to me about six years ago—l am going far back, because it is stated that our cures are only temporary in their effects —with great pain in his head. He had then been attended by the best doctors he could consult for about four years previous without a cure being effected. He could only walk a few hundred yards at a time with safety. Excitement or ordinary physical effort caused acute pain and collapse. After seven weeks' treatment by me he had no pain, could take ordinary exercise, and gradually resumed his place in his former business. When last I heard of him (six months ago) he was continuing all right. Case No. 2: It is commonly said that our cures are only temporary at best. That is certainly contrary to fact. Mrs. H., now of this town, was paralysed for seven years —a complete state of hemiplegia, the result of a trap accident which caused injury to the spine. She had had the best advice and help obtainable from the medical doctors without any result whatever. She was brought to Mr. Shaw in that state of utter helplessness. After about fourteen weeks' treatment she walked as well as any of us can, and has had no sign or return of it since, and that is quite ten years ago. Three years ago she gave birth to a daughter. Case No. 3: A young man with spinal weakness, aged twenty-four years, had been unable to get about without a specially made corset to support his back. That weak state had existed since boyhood. After four weeks' treatment by me he was able to leave off the corset, and has not required it since. That is five years ago. Case No. 4: A child about four years of age had had scarlatina, which left him with Bright's disease. The doctors had tapped him twice, but requiring it a third time the doctors advised the parents against it, as there was no possibility of the boy's recovery. However, the parents persisted, and he was tapped a third time. It was then that I was called in to see the boy. Every night I spent about an hour and a half with him till he was out of danger. After eight weeks' treatment the boy was on his feet, and practically well, though he was then parting with a little albumen. After a few occasional visits that was no longer found, since which time he has been in perfect health. That is five years ago. I might say that in this case I promised nothing, but said that as nothing was being done and the doctors held out no hope, I would do the best I could for him for a stated time—for a fortnight—and if things were going on all right in that time I would continue. 6. Hon. Mr. Fowlds.] Is he still living?— Yes, and quite well. 7. How long is that ago? —Five years ago. Case No. 5: Miss G., about twenty-seven years of age, had been ill ten months with Bright's disease, which was considered chronic. After treatment by me she was strong on her feet, has since been eating anything, and has no sign of her former trouble whatever. She was attended by me three years ago, and is now resident in this town. Case No. 6 : Mr. F. came to me four years and a half ago with sores all over his body and limbs. His case was called blood-poisoning by the many doctors who had treated him for three years without any good effect. He was very despondent and sceptical about any possible cure being effected, but came to see if I would undertake to cure him for £100, by an agreement of " No cure no pay." When I told him that I never did that sort of thing with any one he said that convinced him of my inability to cope with his case, and he left me abruptly. A week later he reappeared by some one's advice, and wanted a week's trial, which I refused. I told him I could do him no possible good in that time —that unless he was prepared to stay with me two months I would not start with him. He finally agreed, and in seven weeks his skin was quite clear, and, as he put it, he felt "fine," if it would only last. I heard of him about a year ago, and up to that time he had had no return of it. Case No. 7 : Captain M. came to me about eighteen months ago in an emaciated condition. He had, as usual, consulted several doctors, who unanimously agreed that the lining of his stomach was seriously affected. He came along to me more to please his wife and friends than with any hope of getting relief. I asked him to give me two weeks, and if there was no evident improvement in that time I would not continue treatment. Before treatment he could take no solid food whatever, and even liquids caused him severe pain. Improvement soon showed itself, and by the end of a month he was eating ordinary food. Since that time he has been in perfect health. I rang him up this week, and he said he was as well as ever he had been. Case No. 8: Last December I was called to a patient suffering from hip-disease. She had been brought