A BRIEF HISTORY OF MEDICINE. _ 21 
visitation for a while, we determined at last to take a shop. 
In 1876 we opened our Botanical Dispensary in George street. 
In one year we found the shop too small, and removed into 
the large double one, where we continued for over ten years— 
an astonishment to many of our friends at the success which 
followed us. 
Ten years ago, seeing the disadvantage we were under 
in not having an education in general medicine, we deter- 
mined to take advantage of our local University; so we 
attended three sessions at the Otago Medical School, after 
which we visited the United States and entered as a student 
at the Bennett Eclectic College in Chicago, where we gradu- 
ated in 1883, Returning home we were not satisfied, and the 
following year we visited New York and attended the Poly- 
clinic College of that city. The Polyclinic, as its name 
indicates, is an Institution for post-graduates or doctors. It 
is largely taken advantage of by doctors from the country, 
who wish to be posted in the latest improvements in medicine 
and surgery. Since our return we have extended our business 
to Auckland, Timaru, and Invercargill, where we have branches 
established. At the beginning we had to import all our herbs, 
but now we grow at our nursery in Caversham some that need. 
cultivating, and gather more which we can find growing wild. 
In Wellington, Christchurch, and Auckland, others, since our 
establishing the cause, have adopted it and are now doing 
good work; showing beyond doubt that in the despised 
(by some) herbs of the field there is virtue stored up for the 
relief and cure of man’s ailments. In justice to the regular 
system of medicine we must admit that great improvement 
has taken place of late. The introduction of chloroform and 
ether as aneesthetics, saving the terrible torture attendant on 
operations, and the abolition of bleeding and much of blis- 
tering, also the disuse of mercury, antimony, and some of the 
old-fashioned misnamed remedies, is cause for thankfulness. 
It is our earnest prayer that men may gain more knowledge, 
and find out better means for the cure of human suffering. In 
closing this chapter let us express our joy at the hopeful signs 
