ELECTRIC BELTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 14191, 13 October 1906, Page 2

ELECTRIC BELTS.

TO THE EDITOR. • Sir, —I hope' you will see the same as, I and others do, that ydu will be doing the public a s great justice hy publishing the. following warning. I have been following accounts which have appeared in your paper about the chat the Parliament has had; and also private letters of criticism concerning the Quackery Prevention Sill, and I find the principal argument is against “drugs.” They say, little or. nothing about those who are quacks, or rather frauds; Who have Very little to do with drugs at all. I refer to electric belts; If I were an editor, which lam never likely to, have the good luck to he, I think I Should spurn the idea of advertising my columns With such spurious advertisements as those which at, present appear-about these belts. But the editor may be in good health, and nob yet had the misfortune of finding .out that these advertisements are ■frauds. Mr Wilford said “ that it was the quickness of the- quack’s pen that deceived the public,” and in most cases I believe he is right. One firm, I believe, "is not registered, and I am sittty to say that registration is not compulsory ,at present. These belts are advertised by a firm as Being sold oil the “ no cure no pay ” system, and I warn any of those who contemplate buying a belt on this system to beware of this advertisement, as it is false. The advertisement reads: “We will cure you free, if you will let us, and if we fail it will cost you nothing.” That means, if We fail send- us the belt back, and we will keep belt, money and all. Once they get an address they send a bundle of pamphlets, with testimonials to show what these things can do. It makes no difference which belt you take, you have the same offer with any of them. I selected the best in the market by the firm’s advice. It failed to do mo any good, my money has gone into safe keeping, and there it seems to stop. No one need think that they will get their money back from these belt firms, as they will not. I say this, as I have it in black and white. Let those who are ill go- to a proper medical man, and not to a bakehouse to get meat. I know what lam writing about, and X invite anyone, whether connected with the firms or not, to contradict the statements I have made concerning the purchase of these belts. I sought legal advice, but, as. far as I know yet, I can do nothing! Now, taking the electric belts, or better, electric frauds with numbers of other quacks, I think the public will say it is high time for the law to stop such robbery. There are laws for other crimes, why uot a law for such false representation as * the advertising quacks indulge inP—l am, etc., A VICTIM.