LEGISLATION AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13995, 30 August 1907, Page 8

LEGISLATION AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH.

Sir,—We hear of.nothing but quackery nowadays. We read of men in high places lecturing and discoursing on it, especially the learned M.D. Alas! wo know.too well that tho scamp that guile the public exists in hordes, and should got a short shrift. But there aro two sides to every question. There are ir.cn who aro not qualified medical practitioners, but who are not dishonest men by any moans in their endeavour to cure tho suffering and afflicted, yet they arc dubbed quacks and scoffed at by the doctors.' Tho ordinary medical man can never see outeido of his own ring. If he or his brother associates ,rannot_ cure a complicated case; with thoir knives and drugs no one can do so. Vc-ry often we hear of tho euro of discuses by herbalists, etc, after tho sufferer has been through doctors' hands and been charged high ft.es simply to havo his trouble aggravated. NoWj Sir, how is our legislation tending in this matter? It amounts to this: that in the days to come you must either take treatment from medical practitioners or die. I take it that in kicking out the so-called quacks Dr Maeon is only retting in tho thin edge-of tho • wedge. Herbalists and their well-tried remedies, patent, .medicines that havo proved their worth—in fact, all men and pills that cure wlierc the doctor cannot—will have to follow tho quacks. Tho qualified medical man is sueliashielded men that it is not often we hear of his botched cas3S, for which he lias been f/aid high foes. Still, once having been through hie hands to our disadvantage, we must slill go back to him or die, because our Government will not let us patronise or try anyono else for our complaint,—and this is called a free country! In my opinion our laws ore becoming too severe. Outsiders, will think we .are like children— cannot use our own judgment,—but I predict, a. reaction wiP set in when the laws pros? a, little harder, and all for tho benefit of tlifl qualified doctor, and not for the general public.—l am. etc., St. Glair, Aiipist 26. Botanic.