THE “MAGIC BOX”

Evening Star, Issue 19003, 27 July 1925, Page 3

THE “MAGIC BOX”

LECTURE UK THE ABRAMS METHOD Despite the unfavorable weather conditions there was a large audience at Burns Hall on Saturday evening, when Mr Alexander Marky, a New York journalist, delivered an address on the late Dr Albert Abrams’s electronic theories and their application to medicine. Mr Marky kept his auditors interested for about two and a-half hours, and it was evident that he soon gained the sympathy of the majority of those present, as the. rather summary manner in which ho dealt with interjectors earned for him frequent outbursts of applause. A number of young men, apparently University students, trooped in ibefore the proceedings commenced, and the lecturer, realising no doubt that there had been some hectic doings during the week as far as the student fraternity is eoncorned, felt constrained to appeal for an attentive hearing. Except for one unfortunate incident, for which the students present could hardly be blamed, the visitor had no cause for complaint. Dr Pettit (Auckland) also gave an address. The chair was taken bv Cr C. H. Jlavward.

Dr Pettit, after apologising for tbe late arrival of the lecturer, said that be had nothing to do with bringing to the dominion Mr Marky, whom he described as being one of the most brilliant journalists in the United States. Mr Marky had succeeded Mr Frank Harris as editor of the American 1 Pearson’s Magazine,’ and had also been engaged in a lecture campaign for three years. Ho had decided to open the columns of ‘ Pearson’s ’ to making known the remarkable work of Dr Abrams, but because Dr Abrams was not approved and recognised by the American Medical Association, the paper had been persecuted, and Mr iMarky, in consequence, lost 50,000 dollars. Notwithstanding, Mr Marky was persevering with tbe publication of the remarkable disclosures of the Abrams treatment. He had come at his own expense and without remuneration to New Zealand. The speaker hoped that medical men and students, in spite of prejudice, would listen to what Mr Marky had to say, and sec his remarkaide demonstration. When lie first hoard about the discovery lie regarded it with prejudice and considered that it was ridiculous and unworthy of any scientific, investigation. However, lie had tested its value for himself, as after throe weeks’ treatment for inflammation of the hip joint lie was 5t.) per'cent, better, lie found that the new method had done something that the old one could not do. No one, ho said, unless lie met Dr Abrams, realised lion- lie towered above ail •other men. lie was the only absolute genius that he had ever met. Sir Janies Harr, ex-vicc-president of the British Medical Association, referred to Abrams as the greatest genius in the medical profession of any time, and tlie speaker considered that ids method of diagnosis was as revolutionary a discovery as the method of antiseptic surgery introduced by .Lister, ile had no axe to grind in the matter, and lie appealed to the medical profession to make exhaustive inquiries concerning the claims. Air Marky said that lie had travelled thirty days to toil them “ one of the most extraordinary stories ever (old.” Ho emphasised that ho spoke for himself and was solely responsible for what he said. JIo was there because lie thoroughly enjoyed every moment of the fig lit that lie was making for humanity at large. The lecturer, with a great wealth of illustration, dealt with the atomic theory, claiming that the discoveries of Rutherford and others in the realm of physics really gave Abrams tbe clue. At the basis of all matter, the lccturer_ said, was “something moving.” and it was only reasonable to suppose that the billions of billion-; of atoms that composed every particle of matter would affect any' mechanism that was delicate enough to register the emanations. It was discovered by Abrams that different diseases recorded at different strengths, and that there was as much difference between the emanations of diseases as there was between the wave lengths of broadcasting sets. Dr Abrams bad been spurred on by the fact that his first and second wives died from cancer, and lie was not then in a position to help them. Dr Abrams, lie said, passed his medical studies at the Cooper .Medical College at the age of eighteen, lint was not o!d_ enough to practise, lie went on to Heidelberg, where lie gained I lie highest possibk honors and commenced to experiment willi X-rays in 1897.

A iffei explaining the workings of Abrams's “ magic, box. ’ .Mr A larky said that it could not only tell v-hat disease a patient was suffering fiom, but where the disease was located. Hut most remarkable ol all, it was abb' to discover disease in its incipiency—before it bad eaten into the human system. I'Vom a few drops of blood, it w as possible to diagnose any condition, and he thought that this alone placed Abrams’s achievement _ amongst the greatest medical discoveries of all time. “ | wish to give the medical men some friendly adviec before they become ridiculous." said the lecturer. “Let them send over a physician to study Hie methods and study the treatment, and then let him come hack and tell the British Medical Association of New Zealand what he has found.” He gave a number of instances where the new method had resulted in cures, and concluded by stating that be was a “ born physician,” and that he was not interested in theories and clinical experiments. At the conclusion of Ins address, the lecturer continued to answer questions until a Into hour.