HEALTH SPECIALIST

Grey River Argus, 17 August 1934, Page 5

HEALTH SPECIALIST

SUED FOR £9B Alleged Unskilful Treatment (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 16. A case is proceeding before Mr Page, S.M., in which George Millward, a seaman, is claiming a total of £9B 16s from John Murdoch Miller, health specialist, for alleged negligence and unskilful treatment. The case is that plaintiff, suffering from constipation, consulted defendant, and plaintiff' alleges defendant falsely and fraudulently represented he could cure him. It is alleged that the treatment was by acetic acict, and that great pain and suffering were caused without a cure being effected. Defendant denies negligence, and also denies that . cure was promised. He merely undertook treatment. Medical evidence has been given that the treatment followed was useless. Giving evidence, defendant said he had been practicing as a health specialist for ten years. He had treated hundreds of patients, and had had about 95 per cent, of success. His treatment was purely external. So far as plaintiff was concerned, he did not guarantee a cure. After the treatment, plaintiff did not say the constipation was better, hut admitted that his breathing had improved.

To Mr Ongley: Witness said he had applied acetic acid to a man suffering with cancer on the knee, and had effected a cure.

Mr Ongley: You effected a cure? Witness: Well, he was able to walk

about again. Mr Ongley: You don’t know whether or not he had cancer? Witness: No, I don’t know.

Prior to becoming a health specialist, witness said, he was an accountant, and for seventeen years he had been experimenting with acetic, acid in the treatment of disease. Re-examined, the witness said he had treated about 700 people during the past ten years. He had never Feld himself out as being able to cure cancer. EVIDENCE FOR DEFENCE. WELLINGTON, August 16. In the case of the claim against the health specialist, Miller, five witnesses were called for the defence. They stated that they had received treatment from Miller with acetic acid nnd hot packs, and had been cured of various complaints. Some of them said that Miller had cured them where medical practitioners had failed. The Magistrate reserved his decision.