ABRAMS METHOD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 81, 2 October 1924, Page 9

ABRAMS METHOD

PROCEEDINGS AGAINST

DOCTOR

COURT'S ASSISTANCE SOUGHT

EXTRAORDINARY CASES QUOTED.

(BI TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

AUCKLAND, Ist October.

iSome amazing allegations were made by the Crown Prosecutor (Mr. V. R. Meredith) in the Supreme Court to-day, when application was made by Dr. Henry Dundas Mackenzie, of Auckland, for evidence to be taken on affidavit in-Eng-land and America in' connection with proceedings brought against him by the Medical Board to have, him struck off the register of medical practitioners. The case was heard by Mr. Justice Herdman. Mr. Dickson appeared on behalf of the motion, which was opposed by Mr. Meredith, with him Mr. S. L. Paterson.

Mr. Dickson said that the British Medical Association had instituted proceedings to have the name of Dr. Dundas Mackenzie removed, from the register on the ground that he had been guilty of infamous conduct, "inasmuch as for the past four years or thereabouts he had practised an allegedly scientific method of diagnosis and treatment known as the electronic reactions of Abrams, in such a manner as to show that he could not honestly have believed it as reliable or useful in cases for which he employed it." First the Court would have to decide whether the Abrams treatment was fraudulent or not. The prosecution . apparently was going to show that it was a fraud, but the defence would call evidence that it was being used by some of the most eminent men in medicine "in England- and America. It was now sought for a commission to take evidence in England and America to prove the bona fides of-the treatment and _to go into the possibilities of mistakes in diagnosis and exploration thereon, and as to how mistakes could creep in or occur in the Abrams treatment. . . '

ATTITUDE OF B.M.A.

It was impossible, said counsel, for Dr. Mackenzie to get any assistance from medical men in New Zealand as practically every ono*was a member of the British Medical Association, which was hostile to the Abrams treatment. The B.M.A. had passed a resolution that no man could practise the Abrams treatment and belong to the B.M.A. No one^ in this country was really in a position to give evidence as to the methods except Dr. Dundas Mackenzie, and one other physician who practised it. His Honour: "I thought Dr. Dundas Mackenzie was. a member of tho 8.M.A."

Mr. Dickson: "I understand that he was, but he resigned some years ago." Mr. Meredith said that the other doctor referred to was a member of the B.M.A. V Mr. Dickson said that if the prosecution succeeded many eminent men in England could also be struck off the rolls. Thousands had benefited by it, arid there was already a society in Auckland, the members of which' had paid their fees and could testify to the treatment as magnificent. Mr. Meredith, in opposing the application, said that-he desired to make it clear that tho action to deregister Dr. Mackenzie was being taken not by -the 8.M.A., but by tho Medical Board. The board consistod of seven registered medical practitioners appointed by the Government, and presided oyer by the Dir-ector-General, of Medical Services, and no proceedings could be takon by it without the approval of the Attorney-General.

EXAMPLES OF DIAGNOSIS.

Mr. Meredith proceeded to quote specific cases that Ma,ckenzio had on ono gccasion examined a certain woman, and said: "I would not like to have what you have (ho had taken a drop of blood from her and put it on his machine). You havo cancer in the throat." He treated her with a machine. She did not have cancer, and that should have beon\ perfectly obvious to any ordinary practitioner. , His Honour asked whether, if counsel charged the man with being a quack, the man did not have the right to call evidence to show that he was not a quack. Otherwise it would not be a ■lair trial.

Mr. Meredith said that the chargo was that Mackenzie was people in the guise of using'~treatment! He was, the prosecution alleged, dishonest in his use of the machine, using it in such a manner as to show that he had no faith in it.

"CHARGE IS DISHONESTY."

His Honour: "Supposing it were a fact that he could diagnose and cure cancer by this special method, if he can prove that how can you charge him with a thing like that?"

j Mr. Meredith: "The chargo is not a specific allegation that tho treatment is wrong, although Aye believe that it is."

His Honour: "Your chargo is dishonesty?" Mr. Meredith: "Yes." He also said that the prosecution was not bound to bring the Abrams treatment on trial to Court. The Court would not be in a position to decide. The matter under review was Dr. Mackenzie's method of handling his patients in connection-with tho Abrams treatment. Case No. 2 was similar to No. 1. He took a drop of blood from this lady and told her that she had cancer, and he could treat and cure her. She was, in fact, suffering from boils in the ear.

•Mr._ Dickson: "Wrong diagnosis. That is what you charge us with.'' His Honour: "This man might say that he used the machine for diagnoses, and the result he got was cancer."

Mr. Dickson : "Cancer reaction."

Mr. Meredith: "If a medical man sees a boil and, pretends it is cancer he knows that the machine, is either hopelessly wrong, and gives hopelessly wrong diagnoses, or it has no virtue whatever." Another woman with cancer went to ,the doctor, said .counsel, and was told that she was absolutely free from cancer, and he ridiculed other doctors, saying that they were butchers, and should not be allowed to practice. He gave her 30 treatments at a guinea a time, and then pronounced her , free from germs. In the meantime she had become inoperable, and, she later died. There was another case of a man with a pain in his throat. There was also a case of a man whom Mackenzie said had cancer of the • jaw, when he only had an abscess. The man went away and got it lanced. Mackenzie had told him that he would die if he did not stay and have his treatment. There wero 13 or 14 of these typical cases. Mr. Meredith said that blood was taken from an ass at St. Helier's, and the doctor was seen by a gentleman, who was told after a blood test that he was in perfect health. ' Then a specimen of blood taken from a lamb was sent to Mackenzie as the blood of an unnamed patient. His report was that there was no reaction and no- disease. A second specimen of blood from a lamb was sent, and then it was found that ■ the lamb had suddenly developed .mjimu: of tha intestines »n^ oonststnial

issue.

trouble of the circulatory system and spine. " " 3 . Counsel said that a specimen of the donkey's blood was then sent to Mackenzie," who reported tubercular trouble. A second specimen, supposed to be that of the patient, was sent to the doctor, who reported having found syphilis, both congenital and acquired, and indigestion;

Mr. Meredith said that if the doctor could disprove these allegations the charge would fall to the ground and he could be given credit for believing in the Abrams system ; but if it was proved that his handling of patients was for the purpose of .obtaining money he could have no belief in its virtue. The only people who could speak as to that' were the people who obtained the blood of the lamb and ass, and the people he treated.

His Honour asked if evidence that the treatment could cure cancer would not be a point in defence, to;I .which counsel replied that it need not be an

If he wants evidence oh the. ethics: of the treatment," said Mr.'' Meredith;"he can give a demonstration.-Yin'"this Court. He can have in this Court-an -opportunity to select 20 or 30 patients' suffsnng from various diseases; in' the Auckland Hospital." - ';- Decision was reserved.