[j. M. MASON.

1.—14.

10

communicate with his father to see if paternal advice cannot persuade the boy to continue the treatment. The result is that the boy gets a little more money in order to avoid communication with his father, and so the thing goes on. The end of the particular case I refer to was that the boy came to me for something else. He was practically out of his mind, in a measure, and I said, "Don't you worry. Tell this man that you have seen me," and the boy never heard anything more of the matter. Nearly every medical man could give you cases like that, which have occurred in his practice. This is the type of man lam most interested in trying to stop, and I may say that through the amendment of the Postal Act last year, which gives the Postmaster-General power to decline to carry mail-matter belonging to any one advertising the treatment of sexual ailments, a very great reform has taken place. For instance, I will give you a list of firms which have been put on this black list; but it has been noticed that as soon as you schedule one name the firm takes on another. List of Persons, Institutes, and Companies the Registering, Forwarding, or Delivery of Postal Matter for whom is prohibited by the Post Office of New Zealand under Section 9 of " The Post Office Act Amendment Act, 1906." Austin, The Dr., Improved Electric Belt Company, Dept. E, corner of Princes Street and Moray Place, Dunedin. Bell, Dr. F., Sydney and Melbourne. Chapman, Mr. F., P. 0., Port Melbourne, V. Electro-medical and Surgical Institute, corner Elizabeth and Bathurst Streets, Sydney, and at Melbourne. Freeman and Wallace, Sydney and Melbourne. Freeman, H., 225-227 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. Freeman, Howard, Sydney and Melbourne. Freeman and Wallace Institute., the Secretary, corner Elizabeth and Bathurst Streets, Sydney, and at Melbourne. Howard, F., 225-227 Elizabeth Street, Sydney. Irving Homoeopathic Institute, The, corner of Hunter and Bligh Streets, Sydney. Kane Institute, 150 Queen Street, Melbourne. Kidd, Dr. James W., Box 552, Fort Wayne, Ind. Marshall Bros., Chemists, Park Street, Sydney. Poulton, R. J., Chemist, 77 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Rassmussen, Herr, 91 Lambton Quay, Wellington, N.Z. Tarrant, A. J., Medical Belt Expert, Manchester Street, Christchurch. Tiefenbeck, J. 1., Manager, Freeman and Wallace Institute, care of Queen Victoria Market P. 0., George Street, Sydney. Wallace, Dr., Sydney and Melbourne. Watson, Dr. W. Carter, Sydney Institute of Medicine and Electricity, 78 and 80 (L) Hunter Street, Sydney. White, Dr., Sydney and Melbourne. A man named Bell lectured in Christchurch and Dunedin, and, unfortunately, by some means was allowed to report his own meetings in the newspapers as if they were the bona fide work of the reporters. Of course he paid for this privilege. I saw the editor of the Lyttetton Timps and Mr. Triggs of the Christchurch Press about it, and they expressed themselves as exceedingly sorry that these reports got in, and they both assured me that such a thing would not occur again. I may say that at a meeting of the proprietors of the principal newspapers throughout the colony it was agreed not only to exclude the advertisements of the people set out in the black list given, but many others, and they came to a sort of agreement, I believe, to send on to me advertisements of a doubtful character to see if I have any objection to them. Many consult me when in doubt as to the nature of the work advertised, so that our newspapers now are perhaps the cleanest in the world. Some newspapers still contain such advertisements, but these have been contracted for and the time has not yet expired, but I have the assurance of the leading newspaper people that when the contracts expire they will not reinsert them. When many of these people on the list are stopped they alter their names and addresses. I have some samples of the literature they send out which will show you that they are undesirable people to have anything to do with. I may say that I have a frien-d who takes a very great interest in the White Cross League, and who is apparently continually suffering from sexual debility, for he writes to these people and gets this literature. The Postal people put Herr Rassmussen on the list, and immediately he issued a circular to his clients in New Zealand stating that, owing to the large number of patients, he had decided to shift to Sydney and will treat his New Zealand patients from there. As a matter of fact his place is still open here. He goes on to say, " All correspondence to Herr Rassmussen will be carried on in the name of John Drew, and all letters should be addressed to Mr. John Drew, 547 George Street, Sydney. ... In future Herr Rassmussen will attend personally to all letters from his New Zealand patients and send them any advice direct which they may require. Nothing will be charged for advice, and all correspondence will be held confidential, and remedies will be sent securely packed and in plain cover, free from all observation, and free of duty, and if it should take a week longer the patient will receive the benefit in extra advice." He says, " By patients addressing their letters to me in the name of John Drew no one will know their private business, as Herr Rassmussen's name is so familiar in reference to treatment for private complaints. Many patients have requested Herr Rassmussen to give them an opportunity to address their letters in such a way that their business would be private." That is the usual game. Then you have something similar from the "Retired Clergyman," who admits in open print that he has been guilty of the " errors of youth." Then there is the Cornish " Miner " who sends the letter: "My Deab Friend, —I have not heard from you since I sent you an