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men. The defendant was convicted and fined 300 marks(B15), but has appealed against the decision.

The late Sir Thomas bpemcer Wells.The announcement of the death. of Sir Spencer Wells was

received in Berlin with feelings of sympathy and regret.The current numbers of our leading medical journals, theDeutsche Medicinische Wochenschrijt and the BerlinerKlinische Wochenschrift, appeared before the news arrived,but the principal newspapers publish detailed obituarynotices eulogistic of the deceased, pointing out thatGerman surgery owes much to his example, as was

fully recognised by competent representatives of thisbranch of medical science on the occasion when his

portrait was placed in the collection of portraits ofeminent surgeons preserved in Langenbeck House. Sir

Spencer Wells was one of the few honorary members ofthe German Surgical Association; he was present at thecelebration of its twenty-fifth anniversary in 1896 and wasvery cordially received.

Feb. 8th. _______________

ROME.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The University Riots.FROM Turin to Palermo the whole academic world has for

the past week been in a ferment. At some universities the

undergraduate "demonstranto" " have been so violent as tonecessitate military intervention ; in others the session hashad to be suspended with half at least of the " annusacademicus" sacrificed for professors and students equally.As I write, even the secondary schools have caught the revolu-tionary contagion and are joining in the demonstrations againstthe Minister of Public Instruction (Signor Gianturco). Mean-while that able and efficient functionary has the sympathyof all the judicious and right-feeling part of the community-sympathy which will sustain him in asserting the authorityof Government and in strengthening the hands of the profes-soriate. The Opinione (the Prime Minister’s organ) con-cludes a grave and trenchant article on the situation bydeploring the premature spirit of party which prevails in theItalian seats of learning and denounces those journalswhich, for political purposes, encourage that spiritand foster a state of things which must be dis-astrous to the next generation while well-nigh paralysingthe present. "From every side," it says, "there is an

appeal to energy, to firmness in the interests of the studentsthemselves, for the decorum of the universities, and for thedignity of science. The severer and the more effective the

rigour the more grateful will be the families whose sons arecompromised; the more true liberty is respected the morethankful will be the youths when, the momentary excitementhaving died down, they realise the deplorable results ofrebellion and the evil inspiration of its promoters." Italyhas much leeway to make up in education, particularly onits professional side. It will be long, indeed, before sheresumes the place she has ceased to hold in the scientificarena. The more promptly and peremptorily, therefore, she"puts down her foot " and restores discipline in her academic halls the better will she consult her own interests at homeand strengthen her reputation abroad.

Professor Bizzozero on Small-pox.Small-pox, like the poor, "is always with us "-a condi-

tion of things the less likely to cease now that the anti-vaccinationist is letting his voice be heard. To this typeof agitator an opportune answer, which is also a grave rebuke,has just been given by the Professor of General Pathology inthe Subalpine School, Dr. Bizzozero, whose zeal and skillin the domain of public health is only second to the

laboratory work which has made himrenoevned. "Italy,"say the agitators in question, "is a well-vaccinatedcountry, and yet she is perennially scourged with small-pox." Now of these two affirmations, rejoins ProfessorBizzozero, the second is true, because the first is not. Small-pox reaps, he says, a yearly harvest of victims ; from 1887to 1889 it cost the country well-nigh 48,000 lives. But justbefore that epidemic there was no law making vaccinationcompulsory. The only statutory precaution in force was one,indirect in its incidence, requiring an inoculation certifica-cate for admission to schools. Statistics for 1885-86 show

that for every thousand births there was an average of 757vaccinations, comprising all the ’’ inoculations " practised atall ages. For every 1000, therefore, there were 243 personsnot vaccinated. The contingent of those remaining unvac-cinated throughout life cannot be determined with accuracy.The nearest approximate estimate, says Professor Bizzozero,is drawn from army medical statistics. In the quinqennium1884-88 which preceded the epidemic, out of 683,833soldiers 12,165 had not been vaccinated-that is, 1-77 percent. of non-vaccinated, or, transferring the calculation tothe 30,000,000 Italians, there were 527,000 persons abso-

lutely defenceless against the malady. So much, continues.Professor Bizzozero, for the non-vaccinated. As for thevaccinated, nearly all of them had had but one inocu-lation," and that in infancy. This is deduced from thefact that in the two years above mentioned the re-

vaccinated numbered as few as 6’5 per 1000, so that,to the non-vaccinated group we must add another muchlarger group-that of those in whom by the remote date ofthe inoculation," the immunity was imperfect, if not entirelyextinct. What wonder, then, asks Professor Bizzozero, ifsmall pox finds in Italy so favourable a nidus for its spread!But are we to infer, he continues, that vaccination is useless!No. The one possible inference is this-against small-poxa single -vaccination is not enough. Nor does greater valueattach to the objection that vaccination is useless becausesmall-pox attacks particularly children under five years of

age, when the immunity it is supposed to confer should beat its maximum. Let us see, says Professor Bizzozero, what,according to age, has been the mortality frcm small-pox inthe two years when the epidemic was at its height :-DEATHS FROM SMALL POX IN EVERY 10,000 INHABITANTS.

I 1887 1888

These statistics prove that the infantile mortality is enormous,but it proves nothing against vaccination. In fact, itdemonstrates that less than a third of those born are vac-cinated within the year of birth; of the other two-thirds, someare vaccinated sometimes in the third or fourth year frombirth, some are not vaccinated at all. Proceeding to examinethe figures of those years which prepared the soil for theepidemic, Professor Bizzozero finds that of 1000 children belowone year there were 685 unvaccinated, and as the birthsin that period averaged in one year 1,135,000, so every yearthere were about 777,000 children unvaccinated among whomsmall-pox could make free havoc. In the years of life im-

mediately following on the first the number of the vaccinatedaugments and the mortality sinks to a small figure. " It isnot true, therefore," concludes Professor Bizzozero, "that

small-pox reaps more victims among children in spite of thefact that the immunity ought to be stronger in them. It

reaps more victims because of the immunity conferred by: vaccination being neglected in the greater part of them."

Feb. 8th. _______________

NEW ZEALAND.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Faith -healing in the Colonies.NEW ZEALAND seems to be a happy home for every kind of

unfeathered quack, the Dierks case, referred to later, beingan excellent example. There must be something in the climatewhich is especially favourable to cranks and impostors of allkinds. It seems quite clear that whenever such a one makeshis appearance among us, whether he is a "boomer" of apatent medicine for resuscitating men’s bodies or of a newpatent creed under the heading of a Christian scientist orhumbug of whatever kind, he is not only certain of a patienthearing, but of a more or less enthusiastic support. NewZealand is constantly overrun with quacks of various

descriptions, almost all of whom reap a rich harvest fromthe credulity and infirmities of the colonial people. A man

491

calls himself a "Professor" (of this, that, or the other

art), and if he be only impudent enough in his assertionand advertises enough people rush to him with fees as eagerlyas the Children of Israel in the wilderness flocked to the feetof the prophet who held aloft the life-saving image of thebrazen serpent. There is no doubt that faith-healing in oneform or another has been practised ever since man made hisappearance upon earth-i.e., the curing of diseases withoutmedical or hygienic treatment-by simply inducing a healthyinteraction between body and mind. For instance, Charles II.is said to have cured a number of cases of scrofula by atouch of his hand ; and it is well known that the medicineman of the Maori or the ordinary negro tribes is a

fiith-healer. On the same principle did Prince Hohen-lohe, Father Gassner, and countless others cure by faith.The doctors of the Salpetriere in Paris work-so they say-miracles quite as unique as any on record by faith plushypnotism. This is all true up to a certain point ; but thepatients, when the excitement is over, usually find themselvesnot only poorer in pocket, but worse in health for their

experience. In this colony (as elsewhere) it is certain thatthe workers of cures" " rarely remain long enough in oneplace to await the results of their treatment. In this policythey show their wisdom. Thousands of pounds must

certainly go into the pockets of globe-trotting quacks out ofNew Zealand dupes every year; worse than this, unskilfultreatment as a rule intensifies the ailment it professes tocure ; but occasionally a "miracle is effected "-apparentlyattributable to the means used-and then numbers are

deluded by the testimony given by the patient, who is,as a rule, sincere in his desire to assist humanity!New Zealand imports about ;MO,000 worth of patent medi-cines annually. The Custom duties on this amount to 35per cent. Trade profits have now to be added before thepatent or proprietory medicine can be obtained by the public,so that the public expenditure on this luxury can be easilycalculated. When one considers that the basis of most ofthese patent medicines is a remarkably effective but cheapdrug (aloes), and that a little soap-being largely used inpill-making-and a bit of ginger are added to warm the com-pound up, it is by no means difficult to comprehend howfortunes are made by the original vendors. The salvesand ointments are compounded of materials of a most homelyand inexpensive character. The attractive appearanceof the package or the euphonious name is probablyas responsible for the favour in which they are held as

any real good which can be derived from the con-

sumption or use of the medicine itself. There is, I shouldimagine, no community under the sun which, in proportionto its numbers, consumes annually more patent medicinesfrom all quarters of the globe than do the residents of theAustralian colonies.

Nem Zealana ltledieal Defence Union.

Dr. Irving of Christchurch and his colleagues are to be

congratulated on having at last found themselves in aposition to register the above company. Legal difficultiesprevented the scheme being carried through last yearat the meeting of the association held at Christchurch ;but since that time it has been ascertained how thehome societies met those obstacles and the difficultieshave been surmounted. Briefly put, the above union isa limited liability company in £1 shares, which formthe capital, and this will not be called upon except tomeet such heavy expenses as cannot be met out of theannual subscriptions, which amount to only 5s. per member.Calls up to the full amount of the guarantee may at any timebe requested if such are required for urgent and specialobjects. Provisions are also made whereby the annual sub-"2,-iption can be increased ; this is for the object of preventingcalls on the capital of the company for the expenses incurredin the ordinary carrying on of its functions. That the unionwill have a long career of usefulness to the profession seems certain, and Dr. Irving is to be commended for his per- severance in carrying out the details.

T " New ’I,ealand Medical Journal " Amalgamates rzitla the ,"New Zealand Medical Joitrnal " Amalgamates with the "Australasia-o Medical Gazette."

It appears from the last two annual general meetings ofthe New Zealand Medical Association that the membershave been anxious to bring about the above negotiation.The Xew South Wales Branch of the British Medical Associa-tion, who are the proprietors of the Australasian Medical ;

Ciazrtte, have arranged that eight pages of their monthlyjournal shall be devoted entirely to New Zealand matter.They also undertake to supply the magazine to all our

members, post paid, for the charge of fifteen shillingsper annum, the payment to be made through the NewZealand branch. The issue of Oct. 1st, 1896, then of theNew Zealand Medical Journal, was its last production underthe old conditions. The little journal has been very ablyedited formerly by Dr. Colquhoun and latterly by Dr. Barnett(both gentlemen hailing from Dunedin, where the journalwas published quarterly). That the New Zealand MedicalJournal did not die a natural death from pecuniary embar-rassment is made clear by the balance-sheet which the presentmanagement have published in its last isssue, for it shows acash balance of £10 16?. 8d., in addition to soundassets which are estimated to be worth .f,80 at least. Thelate journal has played its part well, for it has been the meansof doing more than interchanging ideas among the busygeneral practitioners scattered about the colony and who areoftentimes quite unable to attend even the meetings of theirown special branch, much less the annual general meetingsof New Zealand medicos. Many very valuable papers havefrom time to time appeared in its pages, most of which,stamped with originality and dealing with general practicein the colony, are well worth preserving for reference. Itwill be seen by-and-by how the new arrangement works,but I should not be surprised to discover that before manyyears are over our heads New Zealand will find it im-

perative to have a medical journal of its very own.

Interesting Case of an Action for Malpractice : Damages forPlaintiff £50 and Costs.

The case of Taku Wunu, an infant, suing by his nextfriend Wiu Hamiona, his father, v. Dierks has recently beentried before his Honour Judge Kettle, and has excitedgreat interest. It is as a general rule very difficult to runquacks to earth, but when they practise under the cloakof religion the task becomes doubly difficult. This personDierks is a Lutheran missionary, who for years past hastreated patients and received payment for rendering medicalservices, not only to the Maoris, but also to the settlers

along the west coast of the north island. He undertakes,the cure of cancer by pricking over the area of the tumourwith various kinds of needies, followed up with friction ofthe general surface, and has cau,ed in numerous instances,as it is needless to say, intense suffering as a result of hismethod of treatment. Judge Kettle’s judgment covers all theground, and is well worth recording. As an instance of theamount of "confidence" some of the settlers of Maxwell-town have in the ability of this charlatan they met togetherand subscribed the full amount of the damages and costsin which Dierks had been mulcted. It is a matter of satis-faction, however, to note that most of the enlightenedmembers of the community declined to show any substantialsympathy with such a clerical humbug. The judgment is insubstance as follows : "The plaintiS, a native lad aboutfourteen years of age, states that an injury to his leg wasunskilfully treated by the defendant, and he claims £500as damages. On March 9.h he was struck on the shin witha board and on March 13th or 14th he took to his bed. OnMarch 15th the defendant visited him, professed himself com-petent to treat the injury, prescribed, and continued in attend-ance till Dr. Saunders, who arrived on March 18th, pronouncedthe case to be acute periostitis and necrosis. All the medicalexperts who gave evidence and the medical authoritiesto whom I was referred agree that early and energetic treat-ment is of the greatest importance in such a case. Therecan, I think, be no doubt that the defendant’s treatment was.improper and unskilful, and he is, under the circumstances ofthe present case, liable to the plaintiff. [Bevan on Negligence,second edition, 1895, pp. 1397,1399 and 1400, and otherauthorities were here quoted ] If a person not professing tohave any special skill undertakes on an emergency and

gratuitously to set a broken arm or leg he would only beliable, if at all, in the event of gross negligence ; but in thepresent case the defendant professed to be competent andreceived money for his services. In all probability necrosishad set in before the defendant took the case in hand, but Ithink he is liable for the increased injury to the plaintiff-owing to his improper and unskilful treatment from March 15thto March 18th, and I assess the damages at E50, for whichjudgment will be entered with costs, court fees, counrels’ fee.and witnesses’ expenses."Dec. 24th, 1836.