HERB "ATAH" CHARGED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19604, 5 April 1927, Page 12

HERB "ATAH" CHARGED.

SALAMAN BEFORE COURT. FALSE PRETENCES ALLEGED. MEDICINES FOR CONSTABLES. HIS METHODS OF DIAGNOSIS. Six charges of attempting to obtain from David John O'Carroll and Charles Lawrence Packman sums of moneytotalling £3 15s 9d by falsely representing that he was a person capable of diagnosing and curing ailments, and skilled in the treatment of disease, were preferred against the Indian herb 4; Atah." Abraham Wally Mohamid Sala man, aged 40 (Mr. Schramm), in the Police Court yesterday. Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., was on the Bench, and Chief-Detective ..Cummings prosecuted. Constable D. J. O'Carroll said he called at accused's premises at 56, Khybcr Pass, on December 3, 1926. " 'Accused told witness to weigh himself on a pair of scales, and then accused applied a stethoscope to his neck. Accused then said, "You have left it too long," and told witness he had very bad circulation and would soon lose the power of his legs. He gave witness a bottle of medicine and five bottles of pills. He put a plaster on witness' back, and charged him" 10s. When witness returned to the police station the plaster was taken off his back and was gent to the Government analyst, together with tho medicine and pills. Other Visits to Salaman. On December 15 witness again callod on accused, who said he should have come sooner. Witness weighed himself again and accused applied the stethoscope to his neck again. He said witness' heart and kidneys were not too good, and asked if ho had had any pains in his abdomen. He then gave witness another bottle of medicine and five boxes of pills. This time he charged Bs. On December 23 witness was * again weighed and examined with a stethoscope. Accused then looked at witness' eyes through a magnifying glass, and said: "By jove, very bad; you have got ulcers." Accused then examined witness' tongue with the magnifying glass, after which he said witness had ulcers in the stomach. He then gave witness a bottle of medicine and five boxes of pills. This time accused charged 9s. Accused stated that after about two more visits .witness would be a new man. ' Witness called again on December 30, ■tf-hen accused said his heart was not too good. Accused gave him a bottle of medicine and one box of pills, for which he charged ss. Case of Second Constable. On February 9 witness was again examined with the stethoscope, and accused said: "Your heart is all right but your kidneys and uric acid are not too good." He added that the hot weather would affect witness, and in two years' time he might be bad" again. This time he gave witness no medicine or pills, and did not charge any fee. On each visit witness addressed accused as "Doctor." On different occasions' he saw other patients, including a number of women, at accused's premises. Constable C. L. Packman said ho called on accused on Monday, December 20. Accused weighed witness and then looked into his eyes with a magnifying glass. Accused then placed a stethoscope on witness' neck, and, after listening for a time, asked to be allowed to see the calf of witness' leg. After feeling the calves of both legs and examining them closely accused said witness was suffering from venereal disease. He did not make any blood test. He gave witness two bottles of medicine and five boxes of pills and tablets, and also a plaster, which he told him to place on his back on going to bed. Accused charged 18s 9d. Results of Medical Tests. Witness paid a second visit on December 29, when'accused again weighed him and used the stethoscope again. He gave witness five boxes containing tablets and capsules and Ujree bottles of medicine and a small box of pills. On February 7 witness called again and after'"having the stethoscope applied was told that all the germs had gone. Witness had since been examined by two doctors and a bacteriologist, who stated he was not suffering from the disease. Dr. W. Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, said he made blood and other tests on Constable Packman with a negative result. Dr. D. N. W. Murray said he examined Constable O'Carroll on December 18 and found he was in good health. There was no evidence of any nervous disease or of loss of power in the legs, or of stomach trouble. Witness examined Constable Packman and could' find no clinical evidence of disease. The medicine and pills given him were not necessary. It was most unusual to apply the stethoscope to the neck, and it would be impossible to find gastric ulcers with a stethoscope. Kenneth M. Griffin, Government analyst, gave evidence regarding the composition of the pills and medicines supplied by accused, and stated that the medicines supplied to the two constables were practically the same. Cross-examined by Mr. Schramm, witness said that if the medicines contained various herbal remedies only very small quantities could be present. William T. B. Armitage, .chemist, said he had made an inventory of .the drugs taken from accused's premises and found that in some cases bottles were incorrectly labelled, and contained various kinds of poisons which would be dangerous in the hands of an unskilled man. There was only a small proportion' of herbs. Detective-Sergeant O'Brien gave evidence regarding the .goods found on accused's premises, which included an envelope containing s indecent photographs. Witness also found a number of pamphlets, including a form of indemnity by which patients might agree to indemnify accused against- any claim for damages arising out of the use of remedies prescribed by him. Outline of Defence. Mr. Schramm said the defence was that accused was carrying on the business of a herbalist and did not profess, to be a doctor or chemist. He did not allow himself to be called "Doctor," and denied that the constables had addressed him in this way. Witnesses would be called who had been treated by Salaman, and would show that he had effected marvellous cures in cases which had been given up by doctors. Accused really believed that he was doing his patients good, and did not consciously intend to swindle or defraud them. Therefore he could not be held guilty of tho charges. Salaman then gave evidence, and denied fcakyng the diagnoses related by the constables. He had treated Constable Packv' a \ ° r kidney trouble and did not say Vrin__wi venereal disease. He had some finilino T chemistry and could make not be mnff u' 10 P ei 'f u mes which could land. Tht anyo ?° else in New Zea- ' correct, as tv,» enCe j- • l^e anal yst was in«roua herl« JLvu nes contained num*he analysis. . Were not detected in ™ II 8 S.° tlday! riCS WftS ad i ourne d