The daughter of a doctor, who claimed to have cured thousands of asthma sufferers without drugs, is following in her father's footsteps - despite opposition from the medical profession. She is Mrs Nina Marzi, of Wollongong, daughter of the late Dr Alexander James. Using her father's methods she has already built up a formidable case-book of claimed successes.

Dr James, a fiery Russian Cossack, fought for 30 years to have his unorthodox methods of treating asthma accepted by the medical profession. He was a strong-willed, impetuous but brilliant man, who graduated with honours as a doctor at Moscow University in 1910. His degree was not recognised when he came to Australia in 1942, so he had to learn the language and graduate again as a doctor. He achieved this remarkable feat at Sydney University in 1943, when he was 64.

But when he died in Sydney last year, aged 94, recognition of his work was still largely denied him. Mrs Marzi, an attractive, middle-aged woman, said yesterday she was continuing her father's methods although she did not have a medical degree. "I do not need one," she said proudly. "I am doing everything exactly as he taught me. It is just what he would have wished. I promised him I would continue promoting his method so it wouldn't die. I am prescribing the same breathing exercises he prescribed, and using the special vibrator he invented, the way he showed me to. I only treat people with asthma, or breathing troubles. I don't prescribe drugs or any other medicines."

The secretary of the South-Eastern Medical Association, Dr D Hillyar, has said that Mrs Marzi's actions in treating people could "stir up a hornet's nest." He said the fact that she had worked with her father did not make her qualified. But the South Coast Regional Health Director, Dr M Diment, takes an opposite view. Dr Diment said Mrs Marzi had committed no breach of the Medical Practitioners' Act, and was free to continue treating people.

Mrs Marzi is pleased with Dr Diment's ruling. She said yesterday: "Some doctors are sending people to me but others are against me. All I want to do is help people get well."

Mr and Mrs Adrian Murada, of Dapto, claimed this week their five-year-old daughter Jacqueline, had been cured by Mrs Marzi.
Jacqueline had had severe coughing and wheezing spells for years, and they had taken her to doctors and specialists without success. "Where doctors failed, Mrs Marzi succeeded." said Mr Murada.