Chapter IX: The Testimony of My Patients

——“If our virtues
Did not go forth of us, ’twere all alike as if we had them
not.”—_Shakespeare._

In the foregoing pages I have quoted the testimony of many persons of eminence who have been relieved of their ailments and cured by the art of the Bone-setter, when regular surgeons have failed to accomplish that desirable result. One, at least, of the cases thus published was contributed by one of my own patients without my knowledge. I have thought it my duty in vindicating my special art to give prominence to the opinion of others. I have shown how the sneers of the faculty have been turned to doubts, and under many who went forth to scoff at the despised “Bone-setter” remained to pray. Our so-called secrets have been appropriated and published, but our skill and reputation remain. In justice to myself I have added the testimony of a few of the many hundred patients who have sought and found relief at my hands. These testimonies are very gratifying to me as they include the Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, and many clergymen and gentlemen of reputation and position, as well as a few of the general patients who from day to day and from week to week seek relief at my hands.

STONELEIGH ABBEY, KENILWORTH,

_April 22nd, 1881_.

Lord Leigh has much pleasure in stating that Mr. Matthews
Bennett is a very skilful operator, and has attended him and
several of his neighbours and servants on various occasions
with very great success.

SPOTTISWOOD,

_July 10th, 1882_.

Lady John Scott begs to say that she has known several cases
which were in the hands of Mr. Matthews Bennett, and she has
always heard his treatment spoken of with the greatest praise,
and in many instances which has come under her observation he
was invariably successful. She has more than once sent for
him in preference to any one else, for people in whom she was
interested.

WILLOUGHBY HOUSE, LEAMINGTON,

_February 14th, 1883_.

Miss Holy has taken every opportunity of mentioning Mr.
Matthews Bennett’s skill in his profession.

Of his successful treatment of her sprains, she can speak
with confidence—not only from her own experience, but from
personal knowledge of other cases.

RUGBY,

_March 17th, 1882_.

I have much pleasure in stating that Mr. G. Matthews Bennett
attended me for a broken foot, and that his treatment was so
successful, that for the last eight years I have been able to
walk with much ease and comfort.

R. DIXON, D.D.,

_Hon. Canon of Worcester, and Vicar of
St. Matthews, Rugby_.

12, CALTHORPE ROAD, BANBURY,

_January 9th, 1882_.

The Rev. C. F. Nightingale has known Mr. Matthews Bennett for
several years, and can testify with pleasure to the great
skill with which Mr. Bennett has treated him, as also friends
of his.

DONINGTON RECTORY, WOLVERHAMPTON,

_December 11th, 1883_.

I have great pleasure in bearing testimony to the proper
attention and remarkable skill shown by Mr. G. Matthews
Bennett, of Leamington, in every case which has come under my
cognizance.

In two cases especially he has been enabled to restore the use
of limbs, which had become useless partly from accident and
partly from the insufficient or defective treatment which they
had before received.

H. G. de BUNSEN, M.A.,

_Rector of Donington, Rural Dean
of Shifnal_.

The Rev. H. G. de Bunsen also writing under date December 1st,
1882, gives particulars of one of the cases he mentions:—

“My dear Sir,—It was only yesterday that I could catch the
wife of Richard Wood, of Albrighton, to give me particulars
of his accident, of his lameness, and your care. He is about
50 years old. It was in April, 1880, that he “sprained” (or
I believe rather dislocated somehow) his foot by its turning
on one side when he trod on and slipped from a brick. He had
his club doctor, who treated it and called it a sprain, sent
lotion, &c. But for 17 weeks he could not tread on it, and was
in pain all the time. Then me hearing of it sent him to you
in August. He was driven to the station at Albrighton, and
from Snow Hill to Bullivant’s Hotel, where you saw him, moved
his foot up and down, then gave a strong jerk up, it snacked,
and you bandaged it, and he walked up and down the room for
the first time after the accident! He came again to you a
fortnight after driving to the Albrighton Station, and from
Snow Hill to your Hotel. But he walked back to the station by
your permission; his wife accompanied him both times. He came
once more to show you his foot a fortnight after that, but
his wife did not think it necessary to accompany him, and he
walked both ways without feeling any the worse.

It was not till April, 1881, that he went regularly to work
again, and he has continued at it without intermission.”

WHILTON RECTORY, DAVENTRY,

_April 28th, 1881_.

Dear Sir,—I have pleasure in stating that you successfully
replaced a dislocation of my knee-joint some years since, and
that I have every confidence in your skill as a Bone-setter.
I shall be glad to learn that your practice is extending and
with every good wish.

I am, yours faithfully,

R. SKIPWORTH.

KILBY HOUSE, LEAMINGTON,

_December 6th, 1883_.

Dear Sir,—I have much pleasure in bearing testimony to the
skilful manner you treated me for a contracted shoulder
some years since, having now free use of the shoulder, and
suffering no ill effects from the injury.

Yours truly,

J. GLOVER, J.P.

CLIFF HILL, WARWICK,

_April 27th, 1881_.

Dear Sir,—I have great pleasure in saying that I am indebted
to your skill in curing my knee after twelve months’ treatment
of surgeons, except a twinge now and then I believe the joint
is perfectly sound.

Yours,

JAMES PLUCKNETT.

51, ST. JOHN STREET, COVENTRY,

_December 31st, 1880_.

Sir,—It is with a spirit of deep thankfulness that I write to
tell you that I have now been able to resume my duties to-day.

On February 19, while in performance of duty I was knocked
down and severely injured by an infuriated cow. For these
injuries I was treated first at the Coventry Hospital, and
afterwards at the General Hospital, Birmingham, also by an
eminent physician or surgeon, but from these institutions nor
from the gentleman mentioned did I seem to derive any benefit,
and it was only when examined by you (Nov. 8th) that I was
aware that any bone was injured. From that time my improvement
has been rapid, and to-day I am able to work again.

I need scarcely say I consider myself under a deep debt of
gratitude to you, and shall at all times be anxious to serve
you by any means in my power.

I am, yours obediently,

HENRY ALLEN,

_Foreman Porter, Coventry Station_.

14, PORTLAND ROAD, LEAMINGTON,

_November 29th, 1883_.

Dear Sir,—I have very much pleasure in testifying to the
marked ability with which you restored my arm in 1880 when
suffering from a very severe sprain of the ligaments in
consequence of being thrown from my trap. Medical men, whom I
called in at the time, failed to discern the real diagnosis of
the case.

I am, dear Sir, Yours very truly,

J. CROAD.

CUBBINGTON, LEAMINGTON,

_December, 1883_.

Dear Sir,—I hear you are publishing a book, and thought,
perhaps, you would like my case. On April 4, 1882, I came to
your house at Milverton suffering from a dislocation of the
jaw which you reduced at once. I might add that a medical man
had been attending me for a week previously, but could not
reduce the dislocation.

Yours very gratefully,

ELLEN STANLEY.

44, PORLEN ROAD, WEST KENSINGTON PARK, LONDON,

_February 23rd, 1882_.

Dear Sir,—About nine years ago I consulted you about my
knee. I had been under treatment for synovites in my right
knee by two eminent surgeons for twelve weeks, and afterwards
an in-patient of Leicester Infirmary. I left the latter
institution on crutches and with a stiff joint. After six
weeks of your treatment I had recovered full use of my leg and
resumed my ordinary employment. Since then I severely injured
my other knee, and your treatment of that was eminently
satisfactory.

Yours faithfully,

WILLIAM KNIGHT.

THOMLY HALL, THAME, OXON,
_November 28th, 1882_.

Dear Sir,—It is a pleasure as well as a duty to bear
testimony to the great benefit I have derived from your skill
in restoring my shoulder. It had been out of joint nine
months, and was very badly contracted, now I can use it as
well as the other.

I am, dear Sir, Yours very truly,

ELIZ. WIGGINS.

36, MARKET PLACE, BANBURY,

_November 9th, 1882_.

Dear Sir,—I feel great pleasure in sending you my testimonial
to your skill. Having been under Dr. Deyons, of Fenny
Stratford, with fracture and dislocation of elbow for three
months, and who left me at that time a complete cripple, I was
not able to feed myself or do anything at my trade. I then had
advice from two prominent medical doctors of this town, but
neither would undertake the operation, and the advice received
from both was go to Guy’s Hospital. I then presented myself to
you, and you have succeeded far better than I anticipated, for
I am now able to work at my trade and earn my living, and my
arm is getting stronger every day.

I am, gratefully yours,

FRED. H. HARTALL.

POUNDON, NEAR BICESTER, OXON,

_December 1st, 1883_.

Dear Sir,—About twelve months ago I was suffering from pains
in my left shoulder which I thought was rheumatism. After
waiting about four months I consulted my medical man, who said
the collar-bone was broken. He set it and attended me about a
month. Being no better I was advised to go to you. You told me
it had not been broken, but that the ligaments of the shoulder
were contracted, and I could not got my hand higher than my
head. After your treatment and advice I am happy to say it is
now well and strong, and had it not been for your skill, I
feel sure I should have lost the use of it.

Yours,

SARAH DEELEY.

GUY’S CLIFFE, WARWICK, 1875.

Dear Sir,—I have great pleasure in stating I am quite sound
again. Also allow me to state I have every confidence in
your skill as a practical Bone-setter. You relieved me after
suffering for two months with dislocation of my knee. I could
not get my heel to the ground till one Sunday morning (which
I shall never forget) when I sent for you and you put my knee
in. I was able to walk at once free from pain. I had been
under our local surgeon some time and received no benefit.

I am, yours respectfully,

HEAD COACHMAN to the Lady Charles Bertie Percy.

SNITTERFIELD, STRATFORD-ON-AVON,

_January 27th, 1883_.

Dear Sir,—It is with much pleasure that I write to thank
you for your kindness and skilful attention to my arm. I may
mention on the 10th of October, 1882, I was thrown from my
bicycle near Dunchurch, and severely fractured my left elbow.
I saw a surgeon at Stratford-on-Avon on the 12th and 16th of
October after the accident, who said there was no fracture
or dislocation. Not feeling satisfied, my employer gave me
a ticket to go into the Kidderminster Hospital. The doctor
there told me my elbow was ruined for life—that I should
have a stiff joint; the thought of it gave me an awful turn,
knowing that the means of earning my living would be very
much impaired. I therefore made up my mind to go to you, and
am now very thankful I did go, for after two months of your
skilful treatment I can use my arm again quite freely. I find
it no detriment to my work whatever, and am able to follow my
occupation as well as before the accident.

With very many thanks, I remain,
Yours very gratefully,

JOHN NEAL.

FLOODE ROW, CHILVERS COTEN, NUNEATON,

_August 9th, 1881_.

John Knight wishes to say that he has every confidence in
Mr. Matthews Bennett’s skill having been under his treatment
several times with broken bones and dislocations, the last of
which was a fracture of both thighs and a collar bone caused
by a fall of earth in a coal pit belonging to Mr. Newdegate,
M.P., January 2, 1875, and with God’s blessing and Mr.
Bennett’s kind skill and attention he is now perfectly well.

(Signed) JOHN KNIGHT.

To G. Matthews Bennett, Esq.,
Specialist, &c., Milverton, Leamington.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] See _Lancet_, May 27th, 1871.

[2] George Moore, merchant and philanthropist. By Samuel Smiles, L.L.D., author of “Lives of the Engineers,” etc. London: Routledge & Sons, 1878.

[3] Chambers’ Journal, fourth series, No. 776, pp. 711, 712.

[4] Vol. VI. pp. 82 (1872).

[5] Vol. ix. i., p.p. 750; vol. ii. p.p., 80., 1875; p.p., 567.—_Lancet._

[6] Dr. Dacre Fox touches on this question in his paper, p. 103-9.

[7] Undoubtedly, as far as the metropolis is concerned, but some of the Lancashire Bone-setters had a far more extensive practice.—G. M. B.

Printed by G. J. PARRIS, 57, Greek Street, Soho, London.