Page 9 Advertisements Column 4

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18334, 26 February 1923, Page 9

(Published by Arrangement.) "SOUTHERN VIEWS." — ♦ —— .. DR. GIBSON'S ADDRESS. . . To the Editor. —In my schoolboy days we were taught that . the true scientist was essentially a modest man, recognising the limitations, of his science, and, still more acutely, the limitations of his own personal knowledge; and we were regaled with, the truly edifying story of the immortal Newton likening himself to one who had gathered only a solitary pebble from the beach while the vast < cean of knowledge rolled unexplored' before him. There is nothing in the least Newtonian about the spirit of Dr. Gibson's address. The whole Alpha and Omega of the manifestations of disease and of the wonderful htUling processes of Nature are an open book to him. He knows it all. There is nothing more, in heaven or earth, than is dreamt of :in his philosophy. Those who seek *>he correction of their ailments along the lines approved by him are wise and' enlightened; while those who accept new idejas and practise new methods, not approved by him, are "quacks," and those who . have recourse to these practitioners are "gulliblefools." These are Dr. Gibson's own expressions.. A few months ago one Herbert Atkirf son Barker received . the coveted distinction of knighthood . from the King. He had been practising for 18 years without a medical diploma,. and during the whole of that period had been freely denounced as a "quack," an "impudent quack," "one of a band of impudent imposters," etc., by the Dr. Gibsons of those days. But he got his patients well. Up to the time of his" knighthood the numbers of people who had come under his care totalled well' over 100,000 and included in these were Cabinet, Ministers, members of the House of Commons, a large number of Army officers, and literally thousands of the rank and ' file of our disabled war heroes. All of these, presumably, are to be placed in Dr. Gibson's category of "gullible fools.'' In Christchurch city the members of the chiropractic profession whom Dr. Gibson makes pointed reference—have, or have had, as patients members of. the clergy, members of Parliament, a university professor— has put in writing his appreciation of the benefit received —lawyers, teachers, and all -■- classes of professional and business men. I submit that in stigmatising these reputable and in many , instances well-known citizens as "gullible fools," Dr. Gibson has overstepped the mark, and that such an entirely unwarranted expression ought to be withdrawn. Dr. Gibson has selected as the subject for special comment the practice of spiritual healing and the practice of chiropractic, presumably because these two methods at the present moment bulk most largely in the public eye. The b*4i.evere in spiritual healing may- be left sto answer for themselves, and one can easily believe that those good Church people who are arranging for a visit to New Zealand from that well-known, spiritual healer, Mr. Hickson, will, have something to spy on finding themselves classified as "gullible fools. So far as the : chiropractors are concerned, the question in controversy admits of a simple method of settlement. The point at issue is not what Dr. Gibson , thinks of. the chiropractors-yon 'that subject he is not eiflictly a disinterested witness. ; The question on which the public are interested is simply. this: Is it a fact that the chiropractors are securing definite, decided, and permanent results in the case of patients who have given a fair trial to the recognised methods of treatment of which Dr. Gibson approves, and who have failed to secure any benefit under these latter methods? In order to settle this point,' I hereby»undertake to bring before the Medical Conferenceor before any committee which it may appoint—say, a dozed patients who have been wholly and solely restored to health by chiropractic adjustments. A history of each case will be supplied to the conference, and members will be given the opportunity of examining and cross-ex-amining the patients to their hearts' content. I will make only one stipula—namely, that the proceedings be open to the press, and that the reporters shall be free to publish as much of the evidence as they deem of interest to their public. : If Dr. Gibson accepts this invitation, I will lose no time in making the necessary... arrangements. If he - does not, the public will naturally form".' own conclusions. Dr. Gibson has charged a section- of the Church with "sinning against the light" in these matters; we are justified, therefore, in expecting that he. at least, will \ show a ; ready willingness to face facte. Awaiting the favour of Dr. Gibson's reply. J. A. Scott. President of the New Zealand Chiropractors' Association (Incorporated), High. Street Chambers, " Christchurch.;: Inserted by the Auckland branch of the New Zealand •. Chiropractors' Association. "■ .;'i : - : : Giles' and 'Giles.-. . v .- -•', Cyril G. Long. '" Fletcher and Fletcher, ■