SALAMAN SPEAKS

Northern Advocate, 6 April 1927, Page 5

SALAMAN SPEAKS

HAS CURED CANCER

DOCTORS AGAINST HIM.

GRATEFUL PATIENTS,

(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day.

The hearing was continued in the Police Court yesterday of six charges of attempting to obtain from David John O’Carroll and Charles Lawrence Packman sums of money totalling £3 16s Od, by falsely representing that he was a person capable of diagnosing and curing .ailments and skilled in the treatment of disease, preferred against the Indian herbalist, Atah Abraham Wally Mohamed Salaman, aged 40 (Mr Schramm).

Mr W. R. McKean, S.M., was on the Bench and Chief-Detective Cummings prosecuted.

Salaman told the court that some of his patients were so grateful to him that they had presented him with medals, and ho produced several which were “suitably inscribed.” Salaman then issued a challenge to doctors that, “If they like to take ten patients from the Auckland hospital, I will diagnose them against any doctor in Auckland,” He added that he was prepared to pay £SO to the hospital funds if they discredited him. On being cross'-examined, Salaman admitted that he was not registered as a chemist or medical practitioner in any country in the world. Chief-Detective Cummings: “You were sentenced to one month on a similar offence to the present one and appealed to the Supreme Court on two occasions?” —“They never gave me a chance to defend the case,” Salaman complained. “I acquired a knowledge of the stethoscope when I made a telephone when I was a boy in India.”

“You give pH your patients the same medicine, irrespective of what they are suffering from?” asked Mr Cummings.

“Oh, no. I learn from India and I am still learning,’ ’ replied defendant. Both constables had no faith in him, ho said, but all the others had faith. “You give all your patients pills?” —“I won’t give any information; I won’t tell what the bottles contain ■ed,” said Salaman when the Chief Detective asked him about his -stock, at present at the police station. “Did your ancestors believe in patent medicines that are used now?” asked the Chief Detective.

“I never give patent medicines,’” said defendant.

“Arc you prepared to tell us what profit you have made during the last 12 months?” —“I can’t tell.”

“Do you believe in surgery?”— “Oh, yes, iin some eases.” “Would ;you feel yourself 'qualified to perform an operation?” —“Oh, no. ’ ’ “They’re suffering from complaints I have put 'down here,” said Salaman by way of cheering up the two constables who had visited him.

“The doctors are against me,” was his reply to what three medical men said about him on Monday. “No,” ho said, when asked if he had shown indecent cards to any of his patients. Several witnesses who claimed to have been cured by accused then .gave evidence. Annie Maria Marshall said Tier son was operated on for cancer when a fortnight old. Dr. Garrick Robertson and Dr. Sweet had stated that the child had only a fortnight to live and that there -was mo hope for him.

Salaman prescribed donkey’s mills, marc’s milk or goat’s milk for the child. Goat’s milk was given and the trouble disappeared. The child had boon in good health since. At this stage the hearing wms adjourned till today.