96 AROUND THE WOULD VIA INDIA. 



permitted to operate in this institution, and many of 

 these, and all other physicians perform their operations 

 on private patients at their homes, or in one of a num- 

 ber of little private hospitals conducted by nurses. 

 There seems to be no unanimity among the surgeons in 

 the use of anesthetics and suturing material. Chloro- 

 form, ether and A. C. E. mixture are used as anes- 

 thetics, and silk, silkworm gut, catgut and kangaroo 

 tendon as suture material according to the preference 

 of the different operators. 



THE MEDICAL PHOEESSION. 



I had abundant opportunity to experience that the 

 medical profession of Auckland is cordial and hospit- 

 able. Dr. Edward W. S. Sharman, the quarantine phy- 

 sician of the port, after completing his inspection of 

 the steamer, took me ashore in his steam launch, and 

 from there directly to Dr. T. Hope Lewis, the most 

 prominent surgeon of the city. To these two gentle- 

 men, who gave me their whole time during the entire 

 afternoon, I am greatly indebted for what I saw and 

 learned in their city. There are 40 practitioners in Auck- 

 land. There is only one specialist for the eye and ear. 

 All of the physicians do their own operating, including 

 all kinds of gynecologic work. Dr. Lewis is the only 

 one who is gradually leaving general practice, and will 

 soon devote himself exclusively to surgery. The fees 

 in Auckland are not high. Visits are charged for ac- 

 cording to the patient's means, from 75c to $2.50. The 

 maximum figure i^ very seldom reached. For any cap- 

 ita] operation $250 is regarded, men by the wealthy, as 

 a very large fee. and most of the difficult operations 

 aie paid for at the rate of $100. Most of the physicians 

 are graduates of English and Scotch universities, and 

 consequently their practice of medicine and surgery rep- 

 resents the teachings of British authorities. They are 

 all members of the British Medical Society, and depend 

 For the current medical literature largely on its official 



