A BRIEF HISTORY OF MEDICINE. 19 
told us, he was bowled out. What became of this old party 
we don’t know, we are certain he did not do much in making 
herbalism known in New Zealand. In 1862 we met onthe West 
Coast (South Island), a gentleman well known in Dunedin, 
Oaptain Stewart, who informed us of the wonderful cures that 
had been effected by the use of simple herbs. Huis mate, a Mr. 
George Balshill, had recently come out from Glasgow, where 
he had in a private way, practised medical botany, as taught 
by Dr. Coffin in his ‘‘Guide to Health.” Soon after we lett 
the coast, intending to return to Scotland, the land of our 
birth. While en route, in Melbourne the lady we stayed with 
was an enthusiastic herbalist. She gave us a reading of Dr. 
Foxe’s book, which we read with much interest, and a con- 
viction that herbs were the true medicine of nature. This 
lady counselled us strongly to begin the practice 1f we 
returned to New Zealand, affirming with much confidence 
that we would make our pile by so doing. We are glad that 
-we took her advice. Nor was she far out in her prediction. 
While in Glasgow we served for a short time with an 
herbalist and dentist, named Clark, in London street, 
who was a decided expert in tooth-pulling. There is no 
exaggeration in saying that he had a bushel of teeth 
which he had extracted. In dressing his dentist’s window 
he used to cover the bottom of it with them, as grocers 
spread theirs with currants, nuts, peas, &c. He did a con- 
siderable trade in herbs too, and like most steady young men 
was fairly prosperous. From this time we determined to make 
medical botany our life work, and before returning ordered 
our first stock from a wholesale housein London. We arrived 
in Dunedin in the end of 1872, and anxiously awaited the 
arrival of our goods, which being long delayed, we found 
employment in the meantime with a confectioner, running’ his 
cart into the country. One day while thus engaged, the 
horse, which seemed to have a large share of the evil spirit 
in it, had his blinder torn off by trampling on the reins and 
giving his head a jerk. Seeing him preparing for a bolt, we 
sprang and caught him by the nose and held on to him, 
