QUACKS AND THEIR METHODS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 181, 27 April 1921, Page 9

QUACKS AND THEIR METHODS

A MEDICAL ATTACK LECTURE BY DR. ELLIOTT The first of a series of lectures which is to be given by members of the British Medical Association as part of the peace time activities of the New Zealand Branch of the British Red Cross and Order of St. John, was given in the Red Cross Lecture Hall, in DLxon Street, last night by Dr. Elliott. The lecture was entitled "Quacks and Quackery,” and the lion. Dr. Collins presided. After defining a quack, Dr. Elliott said that quacks were of all kinds, and at all times apparently had existed. There was the "education quack,” the "religious quack," and many other kinds of “quacks,” in addition to the "medical quack.” No class of people bad benefited more by the invention of the printing press than the quacks.' They were no longer vocal as of old, but literary. They flooded the world with their literary productions advocating this and that remedy. One of the reasons why they flourished was the imperfect knowledge possessed by the general public of the human body in disease or in health, and the confidence which they displayed in their power of curing any illness. Medical science was in a state of constant flux. It was advancing, and advancing rapidly, more progress having been madv in this century than in twelve' or fifteen centuries previously. Another reason why quackery flourished was the instinct of self-preservation: a drowning man clutched at straws and a man who believed ho was dying would try all poc sible means of cure. The sick man or woman did not get the blatant promise* of cure from the medical man or woman that he got from the irregular practitioner. Quacks relied not only upon ignorance, but upon the credulity of people, and this credulity was partly accounted for by the love of mystery which existed in human nature. The medical practitioner made mistakes and usually admitted them which gave encouragement to the quacks, hut the latter never admitted their mistakes. Medical science was peculiar in being open to quackery through not lieing an exact science. I was continually gaining fresh knowledge and therefore variable. Dr. Elliott described the different kinds of quacks that had existed from the days of Pythagoras and the evils they treated down to those of the present, day. Rome, Greece, Egvpt. all had had their quacks, who had traded upon the credulity of tho sick, whether rich or poor. Men eminent in history or in literature bed not disdained quackery, and in thisy connection Dr. Elliott instanced Sir Waller Raleigh, who, while imprisoned in the Towen manufactured a halsalm for healing, in which vipers’ blood was on important ingredient. Oliver Goldsmith was also n quack. . , There wore so many varieties of .macks and they had so many ways of treating the same complaint, that’ they could not all he right: in fact they were extremely contradictory, one to another. Bone-setters., osteopaths, chiropractors, and their methods and assertions were nil cniestioned by Ihe speaker AA mt medical men asked was that they nrove their awbons, and he had vet to learn that they had done i his Dr. Elliott admitted hat cures had been effected by suggestion, and that healing’ work 'had been done bv means of faith and prayers Faith, indeed, played a most important part in healing, as 'nil doctors recognised and they themselves tried to instil faith i their power Ho cure'in the minds of the patients. But they took other measures for healing ns well, and the same thing followed wiflh. regard to prayers. Jo do nothing but pray would be an absurdity. • . - i „ The fiuack who went m for cures by electricity, tho Chris’tian scientist, and the metanhysician were next dealt with bv Dr. Elliott. There was, lie told his hearers, a natural healing force in the human body that doctors relied upon, and t'his force these, quacks ascribed o themselves instead of to Nhture. Qimcks had the power of the Press to nid them in their work, and they had the aid of the drug trade. These .irregular practitioners did not make less work for ■the medical profession, but more. I hey made a corner out of something they held to be beneficial to suffering mankind. but t'be medical profession on tho other hand, disclosed it mid d.id not commercialn'se it. Quacks T r ® vl (J e o themselves with testimonials a.nd flooded the newspapers with “Alem. and there was no one to deny them. They filched prescriptions from the. doctors; they fcok advantage of the sick to lay sacnligious hands upon the body divine, and tHieir dupes would not expose tnein. Some interesting figures with regard to the cost of some of the remedies that are so largely advertised were given by Dr. Elliott, together with their ingredients, and he also detailed the steps that had been taken bv legislation to deal, with quacks n.nd their remedies. A very hearty vote of thanks to the sneaker was proposed by Dr. Duncan Flout, nnd seconded by Dr. Truby King, the meeting carrying ft’ with evident appreciation.