CITY HAIL, AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9401, 6 January 1894, Page 6

CITY HAIL, AUCKLAND.

FOR BEE NIGHTS ONLY. THURSDAY .FRIDAY, AND SATURDAY, v=. January 11,12, 13/ and OPERA HOUSE, SPECIAL ' LECTURE, •;/ ON ' SUNDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14. , ADMISSION Free. No Collection. Children in Arms, Objectionable Per««ns, an& Boys Not Admitted. , . : ■ -s -■>> THE WORLD-FAMED ■ v ; .>.*•' r ./ PRE EMINENT MEDICAL ; ELECTRICIAN, / ; ; PROFESSOR RICHARD, , PROFESSOR RICHARD. *• AN ENTERTAINER AND HIS AUDIENCE. SOME ELECTRICAL PHENOMENA. (Sydney Daily Telegraph, April 3,1893.) S electrical exhibition in remarkable bush black audience ' at . oome • • • length on his experience and travels, and bis method of applying electricity medicinally, when the Jrro feasor got to business; On the stage were a chair For the patient to be treated in, and a few odds and ends comprising the parapher--1 nalia of the exhibition t and entertainment. For the performance is divided into two parts, the first giving instances of healing powers, and the second of the application of electricity to a number of amusing purposes. A widespread invitation had been extended to the halt, the lame, the deaf, and the blind to appear and subject themselves to the curative effects of electricity. The i Professor exhibited his Government Royal Letters Patent. Afterwards he announced that any person appearing before' him would require to produce a certificate from a "magistrate of police," or otlm magistrate, or clergyman, or some other responsible person, testifying that he ov she was a victim to the complaint from which he or she was alleged to be suffering;. Professor Richards makes no claim to the profession of any supernatural powers, or to be a walking mass of electricity himself; in his own words" My system does not consist of administering direct shocks by means of a battery or coil, nor is the current connected by wires attached to my. person. The plan! adopt is to stand on the positive and negative plates of the battery, to receive the current in my own body, and thereafter to manipulate the affected parts ,of the patient with the fingers, My j Knowledge of anatomy enables me to do this with absolute certainty, the result being that the nerve power is immediately restored, the circulation set going, and the j,s,in removed. The advantage of this plan over direct administration is simply that I receive in my own person the poisonous products of the electrioity—the sulphuric acid and the bichromate "of potass, while the patient only receives its healing virtues. These acids are ' beautified' in my body." A few general introductory remarks led to a call for the first patient. This was a young woman suffering from deafness. As soon as she had mounted the platform and was seated in a chair, Professor Richards called upon four persons to search him, so that the audience might be satisfied that there were no wires or batteries concealed in his clothes. The necessary testimony being forthcoming, . the Professor ejaculated, " Now I will charge myself," and began the operation. The procedure need not be detailed at length. A charge appeared to ba made through the hands, ana a number of passages with the j fingers and with an instrument were made ! round the ears. Then the patient was addressed from the end of the stage most distant to her, and she replied to a variety ot questions relating to her family history. The audience accepted the result as conclusive, and broke into enthusiastic cheers. The next patient—also a woman—had been suffering from the loss of hearing for many vears— or 30 she was understood! to sayIn addition she had partially lost the use of her left eye. * " This is a much worse case than the last," said the Professor tapping one of the woman's ears. , Procedure very similar to that ■in the . previous operation were adopted. The patient subsequently, answered -some brief ■■ questions addressed to her in a loud voice, but was unable to comprehend " a long sentence. The third person treated 'was a man said to be ' totally blind. After the electricity had been | applied he could just distinguish white from black, but was unable to state the colour of i a particular flower shown him. , Paralysis of the arms and legs were certified to be the i complaint of another patient, a muscular J man, who had to be assisted on to the stag* ;by two or three persons. The current was ! applied to the affected Darts by means of. constant passages with the hands. Each limb in turn was slowly brought into action, and the man ; left the stage with only his stick in his hand. Another case worth mentioning was that of a man suffering from apparently chronic rheumatism. He had also to be literally carried on the stage. But after treatment he left joyously, throwing up his hands and actually jumping on the floor. In each instance a certificate was given as to the particular affection ' from which the person was suffering., : One " was ' from a "magistrate of police," another from the Mayor of Balmain, and the others from wellknown clergymen. One certificate stated that the writer "was informed " that the individual to whom he certified was affected as stated, but the others wrote more positively. The results of each case were received with the wildest demonstration of satisfaction and approval, and the Professor was repeatedly cheered. * The second part of the entertainment was an amusing and instructive exhibition. i

PROFESSOR RICHARD. A MODERN DON QUIXOTE. ARMED WITH ELECTRICITY. [(Sydney Morning Herald, April 3, 1893.) A great deal of interest and curiosity had been aroused in the doings of Professor Richard through the extensive advertisements given to his exhibitions by a section of the Melbourne press. It was, therefore, no wonder that every seat in the School of Arts was occupied on Saturday night. At eight o'clock the Professor made his appearance. A strongly-built, but by no means large, man, rather below than above the average height, and with a formidable head of hair of such distinctly electrical appearance as to somehow remind one of the old experiment we used to be recommended to try in nursery days, about stroking sparks out of a black cat m a dark cupboard. Most of us probably refrained from fooling with the cat; and it would probably be wise, perhaps, to let the Professor emit his own sparks. The audience had a surprise in store for it. After a somewhat lengthy introductory address the Professor proceeded to business, and had as sympathetic an audience as he could possibly have desired, and he ought to feel truly thankful to it. A young woman from Newton, recommended by a minister of that place, was the tirst patient. The clergyman stated that she had suffered for years from deafness, and had found no relief. Professor Richard, after filling himself full of electricity, with apparently as little difficulty as an ordinary Sydneyite finds in filling himself full of whip ky, proceeded to distribute it about the patient's ears. In a very few minutes the deaf one gave evidence of hearing, and being placed at the opposite end of the : stage 1 from the - - healer* - 1 she correctly answered a number of questions, asked in an ordinary tone of voice. . The audience thereupon became distinctly enthusiastic. Then an Ultimo , woman, deaf for 30 years, was made to hear, and appeared to be distinctly pleased at the result obtained. A Presbyterian clergyman at Redfern sent a totally blind man for treatment The man was led on to the platform by his wife. In ten minutes he could distinguish' a light when it was held before : him, and ho was - able to state - that the 1 Professor's shirt cuff was white, and his coat sleeve blue This, the man of electricity said, was as good a result as he could hope to achieve in a first innings. Still more wonderful was the. restoration of locomotive power to a partial paralytic from WortnSydney, the bearer of a le f rom a J.P. Boots and socks were removed, and trousers rolled up, and after ten minutes' work by the Professor the ' erstwhile' cripple moved his limbs vigorously, and discarding his crutch, skipped from the platform like a two-year-old. Another lame - man, a sufferer from rheumatism, also left hi" ' sticks " behind him, and walked away briskly, with ' joy f writ large ! all over his countenance. The concluding portion of the entertainment is of a less serious character, but it is extremely entertaining. A number of people have the, temerity, to -i appear .on the platform, on I the' Professor's invitation, and assist him,

to demonstrate, that he* is % bad mar. to fad with. ... At one time Professor Richard tekef apparently as many volte .":of_ electricity through his body; &a would suffix to ele* trosute a)! the criminals in N.Y. State. l£ fact, it would seem that if the gifted gentleman resided there might commit all sort# of crimes without fear of capital punish? ment, so long at anyrato ias the laws as ta electric despatch obtain in that ; part of tin world. ? ' SPECIALIST FOR BOTH SEXES.— Paralysis, Rheumatism, _ Spinal Affections, Locomotorataxy, Hysteria, Loss of Speech, Eyesight, Deafness, Liver Torpidity, Dyspepsia, Cramp, Varicose Veins, Nervous Debility. Neuralgia,, Constipation, Writers Cramp. Exhaustion, Melancholia, Stomach Distention, Local"Weakness, Sleeplessness, Impaired Vitality, Men suffering from the results of Indiscretions and Follies, etc. • NOTICE TO PATIENTS. — Professor Richards, M.E., protected by Government Royal v Letters Patent of Australia, New Zealand, etc. PROFESSOR RICHARD'S MEDICAL r ELECTRIC CHAIR AND - ELECTRIC COIL, ■ With full personal and printed instructions for use, may be obtained at his private consulting room*. He has - appointed no agents, and they can be bought only, from him direct. - i?, ■'.•>•••» ■ •iyr ;- ■ Both the Chairs and the . Coils are manufactured in and imported from Europe, > r ' and are made from the most ex- . pensive electric material. PROFESSOR RICHARD may be consuited FREE OF CHARGE from nine a.m. to eight p.m. in his private Consulting Rooms during his season here. Fees moderate for a course of private treatment. AH cases treated in the private Consulting Rooms, no matter what the case may be, are in strict confidence, and the names of patients are never given as reference. LETTERS FROM CHRISTCHURCH. It has been stated in the columns of the Electric News that, from a certain uninfluential section in Chris tchuich, Professor Richard received considerable opposition during his stay there. This opposition, however, was completely nullified by the expression of opinion appearing in the leading papers, and the reception of many letters expressing the gratitude of the writers for the benefit which they or their friends had received at the Professor's hands, although the evidence of the Professor's popularity, and the esteem in which he was held, already published, is a sufficient tribute to his genuineness, still the following letters put the seal of approbation on his appcarauce m Christchurch, and are printed as much in justice to the writers as to himself. < TO THE EDITOR. Sib,l have known Mrs. Baker, of Carlylestreet, Sydenham, for six months. During that time she has only been able to walk with the help of a crutch and a stick, owing to rheumatism, from which she tells me she has been suffering for two years. The joints of her arms have also been very stiff, and she suffered from pains in her chest, etc. During the last two months she has had a bad attack of bronchitis, and she had not left her house, when I gave her a recommendation to Professor Richard, ten days ago. She came to see me to-day, and I am bound to say that the change in her is little less than marvellous. She bad discarded stick and crutch, and walked not only with ease but agility, almost running down the steps of the verandah, and moving her arms about in a way which she says would have been quite impossible a few days ago. Mrs. Baker is a well-known resident in Sydenham, and is within two months of eighty years of age.— am, etc., E. A. Scott, The Parsonage, Sydenham. June 23, 1893. ~ . TO THE EDITOR.

Sib,— people of Christchurch have been more than once " taken in" by theological and medical pretenders, and are now inclined to go to the other extreme. The medical electrician now practising (performing if you like that word better] at our Oddfellows' Hall is unknown to us, but should we | not try him on his merits? He asks that the I facts be considered— they not true' arguments ? If a fellow creature be afflicted with a physical burden, should he refuse to go to a stranger who has been the means of caring other similar afflicted ones, merely because certain folks call the one who cures by the name quack ? The European modern schools of medicine and surgery have been directing attention to the use ot electricity as a powerful remedy in oases affecting the nerves and muscles, and where the frame , has been enfeebled by overwork, etc., and in the Interests of science it would not be doing any harm were our Australasian medical men to have a talk with * Professor Richard. About 150 years ago, the Eminent Rev. John Wesley', in his remarkable book called "Primitive Physic," directed attention to the wonderful power of electricity. For rheumatism, etc., he said, " Be electrified Tried." This remedy occurs over and ore again. Professor Richard has made thi matter a special study for twenty years, ant. believes it to be the most powerful remcd> within the reach of medical skill. He does not profesu to cure all cases. Does any medical main profess that much? But in most cases he believes that the treatment, when thoroughly • understood, will ease, if not cure. > Certain cases which the writer Bent, at* • their own request, to Professor Richard, have been greatly benefited— matism, which bowed the man down, and gave him great pain, has been removed, to the patient's thankful delight; deafness has been partially relieved, and may in another day or two be perfectly cured; inability to walk has been cured ; the dreadful pain in the hands, caused by rheumatism, has been eased ; and in one known case been removed. These are facts known to the writer. Do not call any man » fraud and a humbug unless there be evidence on that point to satisfy any of our national judges. Let each man be judges according to known facts concerning him and by his deeds. Surely that spirit which wilfully traduces the character of a fellow creature is unmanly; but if anyone has traduced the medical electliciau referred to, we hope that it has not been" wilfully done, and there is yet time to make amends. "Do as one would be done by'' is a true motto both for private and public life; and if we cannot give ease to a burdened soul, let us be generous enough to allow another to minister comfort to him. Humanity should come before one's self.l am, etc., ; William Birch, " Baptist Minister. Christchurch, June 23,1893. -;