SUED SPECIALIST TO RETURN FEE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18349, 29 December 1927, Page 4

SUED SPECIALIST TO RETURN FEE.

DEFENDANT WRITES “THE DOCTORS’ CHORUS.” LONDON, November 15. Mr R. S. Provis, of West Kensington, described as a consultant in blood diseases, who conducted his own case, was unsuccessful in an action which he brought, at West London Courfty Court yesterday against Sir Thomas Horder, physician-in ordinary to the Prince of Wales, for the return of £5 5s consultation fee. Deputy Judge. . Thomas refused to give Mr Provw; leave to appeal. “That is what l think of them,” exclaimed Mr Provis angrily as he threw a tvpcwrittcn document on the clerk’s table. The document consisted of a series 6f verses entitled “The Doctors’ Chant and Chorus,” to be sung to the tune of “The Church’s One Foundation." The second verse was; At last convinced, the patient Lies down \ipon the board. While doctors soon get busy To steal his golden hoard. Snip! Snap! There goes a kidney From out it’s casing come/ The patient he is sleeping Not yet—within his tomb. _ The chorus, which was set to the tune of “The Frothblowers’ Anthem,” was;—Together, together, we butchers stick together, The more we stick together the safer we shall be. For your case is my case, in fact it’s a gone case, But if we are dissected it’s blue funk then we see.

Deputy Judge Thomas, in giving judgment for Sir Thomas Horder, with costs, said that he could not help suspecting that the action was not genuinely started for the purpose of recovering the fee. Sir Thomas, who was not in court, was represented by Mr Michael Rowe, a barrister.

"Deadly Poisons.” Mr Provis first referred to the deaths of two of his brothers from “the deadly malady, pernicious anaemia.” He said that he had suffered from this disease himself. “I tried doctors at home and abroad and saw all the leading physicians,’’ he added. “Everybody gave me the same deadly poisons to imbibe. When everybody thought that they would be attending my funeral, I heard of Sir Thomas Horder and arranged to meet him. He asked me if I had received any injections.

“I said, ‘No, I have always objected to them.’ Sir Thomas said, ‘I will give you six injections.’ He did not tell me what. I asked him if it would cure me. He said, o, but it will help you.’ At that time help was something to be grasped at.” Mr Provis said that he took the prescription to Dr Spurgeon, who said that it was for six injections of sal-varsan—-‘‘a more dealv concoction than arsenic.” The injections were made afterwards by Mr Arnold Renshmore, of Manchester, wfco charged three guineas for each injection. Mr Rowe submitted that no case had been made out against Sir Thomas and that no warranty and guarantee were given with the prescription.