The Use of the Cane.

Evening Star, Issue 8118, 18 January 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

The Use of the Cane.

The Wellington ' Press ' gives publicity to a case that illustrates the danger of the too free use of the cane in public sohools, A Wellington schoolboy, aged thirteen, in the sixth standard, was in February, ISB9, caned by an assistant master bejause he failed in his grammar exercise. The caniDg was given on the right hand, the blows falling across the top of the joint on the thumb. The joint swelled, and became exceedingly painful, but at first little or no notice was taken of it. Time went on, until about five or six weeks after the punishment the limb was so bad that the poor child could not move it, and scarcely dared move his hand or arm. He was taken to Dr Cole, who advised that he should go to the hospital and have the thumb lanced, as the bone had been bruised by a heavy blow. This was done, the thumb was opened and the bone laid bare and scraped, the poor lad suffering great agony all the while. This, however, did not give the slightest relief, and the master who had administered the thrashing was sent for. He expressed great sorrow and regret that such injury should result from his punishment, and advised the lad's father to take the sufferer to Dr Fell. This was done, and Dr Fell, upon examination, found that the bone past the joint in the thumb wa3 dead, and if allowed to remain would mortify the other bone. There was no other course open, therefore, but to have the bone removed, and this was done. The thumb is now healing, but the lad, if not crippled, will be serioia'y inconvenienced for life, and has suffered nearly a whole year of fearful agony.