CURING PARALYSIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 65, 18 March 1925, Page 9

CURING PARALYSIS.

AN OUTSIDER'S OFFER. ACCEPTED BY HOSPITAL BOARD STOP TALK AND SET TO WORK. The offer of Dr. E. S. Dukes, a registered medical practitioner from North Auckland, to cure cases of infantile paralysis in the Auckland Hospital, was accepted at last evening's meeting of the Hospital Board. ° Dr. Dukes, who is now practising in Gler.side Crescent, Symonds Street, wrote to the Board claiming that in the cases he had treated during the past six years he had had no deaths and that in only two cases had there been any permanent paralysis, recovery being incomplete in these cases because" the medicine was not taken regularly. He had been informed by Dr. Maguire that he must first prove that he could cure the disease, and he therefore asked access to cases diagnosed by other doctors, as his own diagnosis might not be accepted. When the subject of infantile paralysis came up for discussion at the Board meeting, a suggestion was made that it be taken in committee, but Mr. M. ,1. Coyle objected and the -point was not pressed. Mr. W. Wallace, the chairman, said that whatever objections there were to people who claimed to have a cure, he for one devoutly hoped they had one. Dr. Maguire had had many causes and cures propounded to him —one man declaring that infantile paralysis was caused by wireless. Dr. Dukes, "however, was a duly qualified medical practitioner, a graduate of London University in Medicine and a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, England. Under the circumstances, the Board would be lacking in its duty towards the public if it did not give him an opportunity under the supervision of an expert committee, provided the parents and guardians of the patients consented. The committee would safeguard the public and the Board. The committee, suggested Mr. Wallace, should consist of Dr. Keith Macky, Dr. Gunson and Dr. Milsom. He moved that Dr. Dukes be given admission to the Hospital to treat the children or children that the committee selected, his treatment beinp under the committee's supervision. He believed such a step would be appreciated by the public. Mr. E. H. Potter seconded. He thought the Hospital should have a fully qualified medical man giving all his time to infantile paralysis.. He was rather surprised that the honorary staff had refused to allow some gentlemen who had come forward to carry out their work under observation. He thought such an attitude was a mistake. He had been informed that quite a number of children had been cured and it was a pity the services of those who claimed to have effected the cures had not been made use of under proper supervision. Mr. Coyle: I take it a lot children have been cured in the Hospital. Dr. Maguire: Yes. We have sent oiit some and the great majority are doing very well indeed. The chairman said Dr. Macky had done yeoman service and had been in the Hospital the greater part of his time. Mr. Coyle, in supporting the motion, aid a great part of the work of the doctors was excellent and they were doing their very best for the community, but they were in the dark as to the cause of infantile paralysis. Dr. Maguire: They know it is caused by a microbe. Mr. Coyle: But they have not caught it. Dr. Maguire: It has been practically isolated. Mr. Howitt said members always scemd, to lose sight of the magnificent work done in connection with infantile paralysis. By the way they talked, one would think the Hospital had failed. There were sixty patients, and Dr. Maguire had stated they were all doing well. How many deaths had there been? Dr. Maguire: There have been 26 deaths out of 112 cases. Mr. Howitt added that he had met parents who were thoroughly satisfied. The patients had every reason to be grateful for the work that had been done. The chairman said he was also satisfied with the way the work was being done, and the whole-hearted manner in which the doctors and nurses toiled. His motion did not indicate he was dissatisfied, but he wanted to put a spoke in the wheels of the insistent claims that this or that man had a cure. Mr. Coyle: The whole thing is irregular. Dr. Maguire: How a man in Paparoa could discover a cure for infantile paralysis I do not know. The chairman's motion was eventually carried. Rejected Offers. A metaphysician named T. E. Crowhurst, having offered to ■ cure infantile paralysis, it was reported that the mat- , ter had been, placed before the honorary medical staff, which regretted it' was i unable to make a favourable recommendation. In the course of a lengthy communication, Mr. Crowhurst stated: —"I am posting you a copy of my life history, which I am sure you will find interesting reading, and particularly refer you to pages 110 to 146. It is a true narrative of a most eventful, life, and shows bow I was miraculously saved from death on -several occasions, and ! the unseen intelligences that have pre- [ served and guided mc to this, my ultimate goal, for which I was destined from birth. Should my health be restored and my life spared a few more ; years, it is my intention to go to England to try and convince the doctors ' there, who are more liberal-minded than ' those out here, of this wonderful power." The Board decided to reject the offer, and also a request by the N.Z. and A. i Chiropractors' Association for an opportunity of stating to the Board the methods members of the association were adopting in all cases of infantile paralysis coming under their notice. : "It is a piece of absurdity on the face of it," commented -the chairman in reference to a statement in a letter from Mr. W- D. Anderson, solicitor, who wrote "if the Hospital would have X-rays made tinder proper supervision, I will , arrange without cost to anyone to' have the photographs examined, and a report made in each case." Mr. Anderson's contention was that infantile paralysis was . frequently caused by an injury to the spine as the result of a fall, and. he quoted the case of his own child who was cured by chiropractic"methods.