Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-09
ALLEGED MALPRACEICE.

A Practitioner on the "Hoodoo'' Plan
Called Upon to Explain Himself-Suit
Entered for $500 Damages.
Suit for civil damages in $500 for alleged
malpractice in treatment Of a case of cancer
of the breast was brought in Squire Right
myers court this morning by Geo. c. Raw
Inns and E. S. Wallace, against one "E. A.
Macarthur, N. z. etc."-as his professional
card has it-on behalf Of Mrs. Lydia Cress,
keeper of boarding house On Center street,
and the case was set for hearing in hagis-
trate's court next Monday afternoon at three
o'clock. If the defendant appears in answer
to the Courts summons, it is anticipated that
something will be heard of particularly in
teresting character.
doctor" Macarthur located among US, at
No. 1876 South Factory street, the best por-
ton of year ago, practicing as specialist,
his patients being largely Of the gentler sex.
His personal appearance, methods of adver-
tising himself, and effecting cures, if any are
effected by him, are peculiar and some of
them not according to the established, recog-
nized SCHOOLS" of medicine. A person,
patient or other visitor, entering his santa
rum would find the usual sppurtenances and
fixtures. and upon either corner of the table
in the consultation room little piles of circu-
lars or business cards, the latter cheaply
printed upon pink paper and reading: Mis-
sion Office, 1876 s. Factory st. E. A. Nc
Arthur, N. D., etc., surgeon, physician. OBJ
stetrician and missionary in charge" and in
form Of a lozenge, on the reverse: "Dr. Nc
Arthur, from Scotland. Treats all sorts Of dis
eases especially chronic diseases. Ofice.-"
The circulars read as follows:
Ur. Edwin A. McArthur's Rules.
'Since man to me has proved unjust,
do not know which one to trust"
l. No pay, no cure.
2. Every patient must pay his fee before
being treated.
3. A patient not being able to pay down
the whole amount Of fee, NAV pay one half,
or a reasonable part Of it, anu give security
for the balance, payable so much per week.
4. Every patient is required to follow the
directions Of the Doctor as to the taking Of
medicines, diet and eIercise-and to avoid
the influence and advice of ignorant persons
for his own good.
Good business principles, no 6oubt, from
which a pointer or two might be gained by
some of our merchants whose overgrown
profit snd loss accounts testify Of their mis-
placed confidence in certain of their fellow
70 than riUldlv
too. Hence this suit. The facts in the case
are stated to be that plaintiff entered into an
agreement with the "missionary in charge
to cure her Of q cancer for the sum of $50, Of
which $40 was to be paid down and the bal
ance in weekly payments of $3.50. When
$3.50 in all had been paid the ''missionary
refused further treatment unless the balance
of the $50 was advanced in q lump, or secur-
ity given, to which the lady demurred, and
upon his refuse. to refund the sum already
paid consrh,d counsel with this result SO far.
1t is said further that the lady
has now consulted city physician OF long
standing, who decides that . months tune
will be required to put her into condition,
after treatment received, for the operation
which alone can effect a cure. 1t is said,
further, numerous similar instances might be
given, and one is mentioned OF a lady who
paid $50 down and was treated for rheuma-
tism without benefit. And Of another who
was scared by violent actions into advancing
the money, went home, threw the medicine
given her into the FIRE, and never went near
the EMISSION Office" again, and so on. The
doctor claims to be of Spanish extraction and
Scotch birth, and to have practiced in many
of the larger cities Of the world, coming
here from Detroit. He is a large man, OF
impressive manner and suave address,
but who can, on occasions, get on
his professional ear, as one Of the attorneys
discovered, whom he interviewed the doctor
on behalf of his client. One popularity is
that he always wears his hat, which, when
removed shows his close-cropped capillary
covering to be curly; some say crinkly. His
countenance is swarthy, but other wise he is
much like other men. Whatever his stand
ing as a practitioner, whether empirical or
not, the man is certainly q character in his
line and enc about whom the public may be
interested in learning more. 1t is said that
part of his treatment in certain classes Of
cases, consists in motions and passes of the
hands over the patient. The examination
Monday will no doub; bring out much inter-
esting informstion.