"BEAUTY'S PASSPORT."

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 108, 7 May 1913, Page 6

"BEAUTY'S PASSPORT."

ELECTRIC TREATMENT FOR; ACNE. A SPECIALISTS BILL. DISCOUNTED BY MAGISTRATE. The efficacy of a "'high-frequency electric tube treatment" aa a cure for blackheads upon tho face was discussed at some length during the hearing of a case by Mr. Kettle, S.-Vl., in the Magistrate's Court this morning. The plaintiff in the action, G. Edwards, who described himself as secretary of the Auckland Massage and Electrical Institute Co., carrying on business in Symonds Street, claimed a sum of £22 6/ from A. E. E. Bourne, a cycle agent, for 22 weeks of the treatment mentioned, at the rate of £2 2/ a week, less £7 2/ received on account. Mr. M. D. Mahoney appeared for the plaintiff, and IMt. K. P. Towle for the defendant.

The plaintiff stated that he commenced to treat the defendant on August 28 of last year for- blackheads upon the face, and continued the treatment till December 7 following. Under cross-examina-tion by Mr. Towle, he stated that his treatment, for blackheads was known as a "high-frequency electric tube treatment," which consisted in massaging the face and the subsequent application of electricity in the form of sparks from a tube to the skin.

ATTRACTIVE ADVERTISING. Mr. Towle produced an advertisement signed by the plaintiff, which had been inserted in a weekly journal, and read the following extract from" it: —: "Beauty knows no barriers. Everyone stands aside to make way for the holder of beauty's -passport. Modern science, working along natural lines, has discovered a positive cure for such distressing defects as wrinkled skins, hollow cheeks and neck, pimples, blackheads, unsightly Blotches, superfluous hair, etc., etc." ■;_. . The defendant stated that last year he became friendly with the pJaintiff, who he then considered to be " one of the •hoys."" Ec/tvards several tunes' took occasion to remark that witness's face was dis-lgured hy blackheads, and declared that he could put an end to the trouhle. After some persuasion witness agreed to. undergo the treatment, which Edwards "said would take four or five weeks," jmd would cost aDout £10;

Mr. Kettle: I see. "Beauty's Passport" for a '* tenner." Defendant said.that for the first few weeks he used to go to Edwards for •treatment six times' "a week, though later on he went less frequently. Edwards did not tell Mm to regulate his diet or to avoid alcoholic .liquor/ on. the contrary; -they used to "adjourn to a near-by hotel after each treatment and have.a couple of drinks, each. .... Sometimes a friend-went with them,-and-that meant three drinks. ■■

In November Edwards asked him for something on account, and witness gave him £5. Witness had; previously taken out an accident policy on his behalf at a cost of £2 2/, and had not heen repaid. Edwards described the treatment hy -saying that the blackheads were brought to the surface and there killed hy the eiectricity. "I suppose he meant that they were electrocuted, 1 " added the' witness. He went on 'to say that he derived no benefit whatever' from the' treatment, and asked that the sum which the plaintiff had already received should he considered sufficient remuneration. '

MEDICAL TESTIMONY. Dr. Albert Clark, called by ytr. Towle, stated that he was a specialist iv skin complaints. Blackheads, said the witness, were one feature of the disease known as acne, which was a characteristic complaint in youth and adolescence, and usually departed as the subject grew older. The modern, method of hastening lis departure was the use of vaccines, but with any treatment careful regulation of the diet and abstention from alcohol were necessary.- Electricity was at one time advocated as a cure for acne, .but no brilliant results bad ever been obtained from its use, and it had been quite in abeyance for ten or twelve years at least. He considered that it was quite an obsolete treatment. "I won't say anything about the plaintiffs ability or hi 3 methods," said Mr Kettle, in giving judgment; '"'that is not my concern in this case. So long as he keeps within the law be may continue to use the methods of treatment he has employed in the past. I am of opinion that the amount tbat the defendant has paid is ample, perhaps far more than sufficient return for the'plaintiff's services. People are often attracted by advertisements.as moths are by a candle llame, and they get burnt. This youn"man.has been burnt to the extent of £7 Judgment will be for the defendant" *